
Author 



Title 



Imprint. 



J&— 47373-2 OPO 



HISTORY 



OF THE 






C'^<^/v^.J^.y^_• 



CITY OF ADRIAN, 



AND THE SETTLEMENT OF 



LENAWEE COUNTY, 



FROM THE YEAR 1824 TO THE PRESENT TIME. DETAILS OF ALL THE IMPORTANT 
EVENTS, 'GIVING DATES AND GRAPHIC STATEMENTS. 



^^LSO 



A COMPLETE COMPILATION 



OF THE 



PRESENT MOST IMPORTANT INTERESTS OF THE CITY. 



ADRIAN : 
LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, 

1874. 



CRANE & LIVESAY, 




II 





lES, 



Cor. Main and Maumee Sis., Adrian, Mich. 



Sr 131 0^s jM ^' ^ ^ " ^^ j^ '^^ ^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^ ^ ^ '^ 





■J' 



^ittc ioUct ^mp, fmn) ^uiiv aiul itootli gvtiohco, 

PERFUMERY AND FANCY TOILET ARTICLES. 
The Cheapest and Best Perfumery is our 

BLACK BOTTLE COLOGNE. 

PAINTS, OILS, VARNISH, DYE STUFFS, 

GLASS, PUTTY, CARBON OIL, &c., &c. 

OUR HEAVE CURE, 

Acknowledged to be the BEST REMEDY EVER USED IJ{ THE COUJ^TRT. It never fails 

to permrtneivtly cure the ivorst case of heaves. We can refer to a number of 

persons who have tided it. We warrant a cure every time. 

ADRL\N. Sept. 25, 1874. CT^/^A-ICTE &C IL.Z^ES^^"2". 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



CITY OF ADRIAN, 



AND THE SETTLEMENT OF 



LENAWEE COUNTY, 



FUOM THE YEAR 1824 TO THE PRESENT TIMK DETAILS OF ALL THE IMPORTANT 
EVENTS, GIVING DATES AND GRAPHIC STATEMENTS, 



JLLSO 



if 

A COMPLETE COMPILATION 



OF THE 
PRESENT MOST IMPORTANT INTERESTS OF THE CITY. 

ADRIAN: \ .''^-^t^.r 

LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 

1874. 



Entered according to Act of C&ngress, in the year 1874, by Wilh'enn A. Whitney, in the office «f the Lihrarinn 

of Congress, at Wa»hxnglon. 



ADRIAN, MICH. 






Compiled and Arranged by, AfiHIAN, MICH : 

RICHARD 1. BONNER, 



PKfSTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE DAILY PRF.SS. 
1874. 




the: siim[pil.£:st. 



IVIOST DXJFIABLE, 



5IJ 



~'e=5fe:58=^e=sez^e;;:; £:??;;:? g=Sfe^e=^tr:3 



ISf IW f 11 



J^G-EIDTTS ^AT J^ IsT T E ID 



WE KH]:i' A FULL ASS( )HI .MKM" OF 

FOR LADIES AND CHILDEEN'S GARMENTS. 



OSB.ce, 25 Maumee Street, 



B. VANDEMARK, 

GENERAL AGENT. 



M 



JytSP 



cs 






im^ 



Z*. i ALSO A FULL STOCK OF 



Shirting, Flannels, Blankets, Tickings, 

Denims, Table Linen, Gloves and Hosiery, 

Alwars on hand 

^,yi* Kept M^rjseb J?oj}w irrrs rss Tixms, 



^\'e being eoiuu'ctcd witli tlic (jreat Dry Goods House of 
Toledo, (Frc<l. Eaton tt Co.,) \vi> arc enabled to give bargains and 
job lots to our customers tliat no other house in Southern Mieliig; u 
are able to do. A r(>sideut buyer in Xew York, and t«o in 
Toledo, are always on the look-out f()r bargains to fill their FOUR 
large store.s. JJe sure and see us before purchasing your winter 
goods. ■ 

JAMES A. EATON & CO. 

Next to Post Office. ADRIAN, MICH. 



hZt 



'a^lV^:^^ S^JF .^^t3-t:i 



James A. Eaton 8u Co., | 

THE POPULAR 

mi 

ARE CONSTANTLY RECEIVING 

NEW AND CHOICE STYLES OF 

DRESS GOODS, 

e XI ii. T^ Xa e , 

PANT GOODS, TIES, RUSHING, 



2 



ZJ 



PREFACE. 



)N presenting this Work to the Public, it is our intention to give as correct a history as possible of 
■)Adrian, and Lenawee County from its earliest settlement up to the present time. At the same time 
we propose to further add to its v^alue by giving a complete list of the important business interests of the city 
in the form of Business Cards and Advertisements, which will be found of great importance and convenience to 
every citizen of Lenawee County. 

LTsefulness rather than any other object, has been our aim in the prc})aration of this Book, and as it is 
intended for gratuitous circulation, we believe it will i>rove a work of great benefit and importance to the 
community. 

Besides the very interesting and valuable statistics and sketches of the early settlement and progress of the 
city and county, which will be highly prized and treasured by a majority of our citizens, the business notices 
will also be found of great importance, as an index to the best and most reliable dealers in all the commodities 
in which the community may be in want. It will be found a comjilete reflex of our important business 
interests, as we have been careful in our compilation to solicit only the best ai;d most reliable firms and 
business men. 




OUR SCHOOL PRIVILIGES. 



^^HE above cut is an accurate picture of our Central School Building. This is, without doubt, the finest Union 
■*^^ School building in ilichigan, and was built at a cost of about ?1()0,000. The building contains more than 
1,000,000 brick, beside the large amount of stone used in its construction, and is supplied with all the most modern 
and approved apparatus for heating, ventilation, etc.; while the seats, desks and furniture are the most comfortable and 
best in use. We have no hesitancy in saying that our Union School stands at the head of all similar schools in the 
West, the graduates being admitted into the University without question or examination. Besides the Central 
building, we have four large brick school buildings located in the different wards of the city, for the accommodation of 
pupils. The number of school children in the city between the ages of five and twenty years, is something over 2,900 
The School Library contains 1,400 volumes. 

The Adrian College is also a thriving institution, with a Faculty equal to any in the West. The buildings, four 
in number, are all of brick, very large and commodious, and perfectly adapted to the purpose. They are located on 
a most commanding eminence in the west city limits, overlooking the entire city. No better or healthier locality can 
be found in Michigan. 

Pei-sons having children to educate can do no better than come to Adrian for that purpose, as we possess all the 
advantages that any person could wish for. The very best of schools of all kinds, the healthiest city in the West, 
fine churches of all denomination.?, and as intelligent, thrifty and law abiding citizens as can be found. 



ADRIAN; 

ITS VERY EARLIEST HISTORY, 



The folloiving Facts, Dates, Reminiscences and Events, we have gathered from, the very oldest 
Settlei's in the County, some of whom have ivritten their recollections for puhli- 
cation. We believe these statements are as reliable as can 
now be had of the very earliest days of 
the settlement of Lena- 
wee County: 

^'.J^I^EPTEMBTCR 7th, 1825, Adaison J. Comstock piircliased of the United States, 480 acres of land 
'K^jtggJow which the greater part of Adrian now stands. Mr. Comstock afterwards returned to tlie State of 
■^'"^ New York, and was married to Miss Sarah S. Dean, February 14th, 1826, when the same spring 
he returned to Miciiigan with his wife, and stopped at the Valley with his father, until he could build a log 
house, ou the same ground where Mrs. Chloe Jones now lives, on the bank of the river. He also built another 
log house for his hired man, John Gilford, which was located, unfortunately, in the street, directly in front of 
where tne Gibson House now stands. 

June 28th, 1826, Mr. John Gilford purchased from the United States eighty acres of land, lying in the 
present Second Ward. Mr. Gilford, with his family, moved into the house built for him, by Mr. Comstojk, on 
the 10 ;h day of August, 1826. A few days latter Mr. Comstock and wife occupied their new house; hence it 
is that Mrs. Gilford claims to be the first female resident of Adrian, which is true by a few days. Mrs. Gilford 
is now living in St. Joseph County, this State. Her husband die 1 in Adrian about as early as 1829 or '30. 

December 26th, 1826, Elias Dennis purchased of the United States the eighty acres of land known for a 
long time as the Dennis property, and at a later date sold by the heirs to L. G. and A. S. Berry, who platted 
the same, and it is now known as L. G. and A. S. Berry's Southern Addition to Adrian. This same year I\Ir. 
A. J. Comstock built a saw mill near the one now owned by Mrs. Mandeville. 

Noah Norton came to Michigan in the employ of Darius Comstock, in the year 1826, and stojiped at the 
Valley. In the year 1827 he came to what is now Adrian, and built a house on land now owned by the Wells 
estate, just east of the Gibson Hou^e. The only one of the family now left in this vicinity is Mrs. 
George Ward, — the old gentlerjan having emigrated to California whe-e he died. 



*b 



FIRST ELECTION OF TOWN OFFICERS. 

At a township meeting, held at Darius Corastock's, in the township of Logan, County of Lenawee, and 
Territory of Micliigan, on the twenty-eighth day of May, A. D 1827, pursuant to the act, the following persons 
were elected for township officers: — 

Elias Dennis, for Moderator of said meeting; Adilison J. Comstoek, for Towiisliip Clerk; Darius 
Comst(X-k, for Sujjcrvisor; Xoali Norton, Warner Aylsw)rth, and Cornelius A. btout, Commissioners of 
Highways; Patrick Hamilton, Milo Comstock, and Abram West, Assessors; Patrick Hamilton and Abram 
West, Overseers of tlie Poor. 

The first child born in Adrian was Leander Comstock, son of Addison J. and Sarah S. Comstock, born 
August 9th, 1827. 

The first death in the place was Leander Comstock, October 8th, 1S27, a son of Addison J. and Sarah S. 
Comstock, and was the first bur'al in what is now known as tlic old burying ground. The second death was 
Mrs. Elias Dennis, in the spring of 1828, and the third M-as John Gitford, buried in the same grounds. 

October 23d, 1827, James Whitney purchased four hundred acres of land of the United States, on the 
west side of the river, and returned to Orleans county, Xew York, to close uj) his busiiicss, with the intention 
of moving to Michigan the next year. 

SECOND ELECTION. 

The fjlloTring is a copy of the procee<lings of aa election, held at the house of Darius Comstock, on 
the first Monday of November, 1827: — 

At an election licld in the town of Logan, for tlie purpose of choosing members for the Legislative Council, held November 5th, 
1827, llie following votes wpre given: — 

For Darius Comstock 22 

" Wolcott Lawrence -4 

" Laurent Durocher lo 

" Peter P. FeiTV 10 

PATRICK HAMILTON, 
ABRAM WEST, 
A. J. COMSTOCK, 

Inspectors of El;ction. 

On the thirty-first da/ of March, 1828, Addison J. Comstock laid out, platted, and recorded the original 
plat of the village of Adrian, as follows: — 

I, Addison J. Comstock, do hereby give, grant, and convey the land represented in the within town plat, for streets and other public 
uses, to the pcojde of the county of Lenawee, to be by them held for the uses and purposes therein named and t-xpres^ed, agrteable to 
the statute of the Territory of Michigan, approved April 12th, 1S27, entitled "An act to provide for the recording of town jdats," and 
for no other purposes. 

Signed and sealed this thiitv-first dav of March, in the vear eighteen hundred and twentv-eight. 

[L. S.] " " ' ' ADDISON J. COMSTOCK. 

I, Caleb N. Ormsby, do certify that on this thirly-first day of March, 1828, personally came before me the above named Addison J. 
Comstock, and acknowledged that he executed the above for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. 

C N. ORMSBY, J. Peace. 
A true registrv and record, entered Tuesdav, the first dav of April, A. D., 1828, at eleven o'clock A. M. 

GEO. SPAFFORD, Register of Probate: 

This jilat contained forty-nine village lots, commencing near the river, and running east as far as villao-e 

lot 34, on which William A. Whitney now resides. The street from Main street to the river Tas called St. 

Joseph street, and has never been legally changed, and the street east from Main street was called Maumee street. 



The village of Adrian was named by Mrs. A. J. Comstock, after a Roman Emperor. 

The Rev. John Janes delivered the first sermon in Adrian, at the house of Noah Norton, in 1827. 

THIRD ELECTION. 

At the annual town meeting of the inhahltants of the town of Logan held at the home of Addison J. Comstock on tlie 7th day of 
April, A. D. 1828, pursuai^t to the act, the following persona were elected for town offio&rs : — 

David BixbVj Moderator of said meeting; D.iriiis Comstock for Supervisor ; Addison J. Comstock Town Clerk; P. Hamilton, A. 
West, E Dennis, for Assessors ; C. A. Stout, W. Aylsworth, N. Norton, Commissioners of Highways; Allen B. Cliaftee for Collector; 
A. R, Chaffee for Constable; Joseph Pratt and Lyman Peas for Overseers of the Poor; J. Uiffijrd, Nathan Pelton and Natlian Comstock 
for Fence Viewers; David Bixby for Overseer of Highways for District No. 1 ; Ly.iian Peas for Overseer of District No. 2. 

[Signed,] DAVID BIXBY, Moderator, 

A. J. COMSTOCK, Town Clerk. 

Also the following votes were given for County Officers i^Addison J. Comstock received twenty-one votes for the office of County 
Treasurer, Noah Norton received eighteen votes for Coroner. 

LooAN, April 7th, 1828. 

Noah Norton, Wairen Aylsworth, Road Commissioners, and Anthony McKey, Surveyor, laid out and 
established about fourteen roals, from November 26th, 1827, to December 11th, 1828. 

The first Doctor who settled in Adrian was Caleb N. Ormsby, who came in the spring of 1828. 

The first brick made in Adrian was made this year by Noah Norton. 

June, 1828, James Whitney returned to Adrian with his family and immediately built a log hou.se on his 
farm which he had purchased the year before, and directly where H. V. Hart, Esq., now resides. His firm 
was bounded on the north by what is now known as the Tabor farm, on the south by section line running east 
and west through the centre of Adrian College, on the east by B'-irton Kent's east line, where he now Kv'S 
and on the west by land of Nathaniel Raymond. The original farm was owned by Mr. Whitney until 1833, 
when he being desirous of ?-emoving to a new country, and having cleared uj) about two hundred acres of the 
heaviest timbered land in the countrj', sold his farm which has since been known as the Rowley, Scott, or 
Winans and Underwood farms, and all east of Scoi;t street extending to Burton Kent's east line, where he 
now lives, which now is pretty well covered with buildings and seems to be the most growing part of the City 
of Adrian. The north half of the college building stands on the old farm. 

The -ttli of July, 1828, was the first celebration of the kind ever held in this village. It was truly a 
great day for Adrian. Large preparations were made, and at an early hour the peojjle began to assemble 
around the stand, erected for the occasion, under a white oak tree nearly where W. S. Wilcox's store now 
stands, amid the roar of an anvil, until it -was estimated that from thirty to forty persons had arrived, when 
Addison J. Comstock read the Declaration of Independence and Dr. C. N. Ormsby delivered the oration, after 
which the Marshal of the Day, Noah Norton, formed the procession and "procecdetl through the principal 
streets" (through hazel brush) to the house of A. J. Comsto.;k, where dinner had been prepared by Mrs. 
Comstock, assisted by the ladies of the village. 

After dinner, regular and volunteer toasts were given. The writer of this remembers but one, which was 

given ])y the Marshal of the Day, Noah Norton, as follows : — 

" O Tecumseh ! Tecnmseh ] how often would we have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under 
her wings, and ye would not." 

It is unnecessary to say that this brought down the house. Bonfires, and no dance in the evening ended 
the festivities of the day. The jNIarshal was extremely fortunate in borrowing a pair of shoes of Mr. Eleazer 



Baker, a boarder of his, otherwise he could not have jicrforined tiie duties assigned him that day. As it Mas 
Mr. Baker could not celebrate. 

In the .Slimmer of 1828, Isaac Dean, father-in-law of Addison J. Conistoek, commenced building the 
Exchange, where the Lawrence House now stands, and in the fall of the same year his family came to Adrian. 

FOURTH ELECTION, 



At an annual town meeting of the inhabitants ef the town of Logan, convened at the house of Isaac Dean, in the village of Adrian, 
on the sixth day of April, 1829, the following person were chosen for town officers for the ensuing year: — 

Nathan Comstock, for Supervisor; Addison J. Conistoek, Town Clerk ; Patrick Hamilton, Abram West, Curren Bradlsh, Assessors ; 
Cornelius A. Stout, Collector; Cornelius A. Stout, Nathan Pelton, Constables ; Warner Aylsworth, Noah Norton, Nelson Bradish, 
Commissioners of Highways; Joseph Pnitt, Darius Comstock, Overseers of the Poor; Overseers of Highways, District No. 1, Cornelius 
A. St' ut; District No. 2, Isaac Dean; District No. 3, Daniel Walworth ; District No. 4, Milo Comstock. 

Voted at the same time that the Overseers of Highways be fence viewers for said town. 

Voted that all boars be restrained from running at large in said town, under a penalty of two dollars, — (ought to be enforced row.) 

The following votes were given for county officers: Thomas Sackrider received thirty vote.s for Coroner; Addison J. Comstock 
received forty votes for Treasurer. 

■ Attest : A. J. COMSTOCK, Town Clerk. 

This same year, 1829, Addison J. Comstock and his father-in-law, Mr. I.saac Dean, buih the red grist 
mill. Before this the settlers were obliged to go to Tecumseh, Saline or Monroe to mill. The writer saw 
the first work the old red mill ever did. 

June 2d, 1829, Abijah Russell purchased 35 and 60-100 acres of land of the United States, and in May, 
1831, sold the same to Richard M. Lewis, — consideration eighty dollars. This land was known as the Lewis 
fraction tor many years, until James Berry purchased it and cut it up into city property, a few years since. 
The land purchased by Messrs. Comstock, Gifford, Dennis and AV'hitney comprises nearly all on which Adrian 
now stands. 

This year, 1829, a post-office was established in Adrian, A. J. Comstock, post-master, Tlie first quarters 
receipts were nineteen cents. 

The first school in Adrian was kept in the house of N<xih Norton, by Miss Dorcas Dean, in the year 
1828-9. It was select, for I was one of the scholars. The same year (1829) a good frame school hou.se was 
built on the lands now owned by Daniel Welch, on the west side of Mala street, on the bank opposite the 
tannery. 

This same year Dr. E. Conant A\^inter, opened a dry goods store in the front room of Dr. Ormsby's house, 
which until recently stood on the south-west corner of Maumee and AVinter streets, wliere Ira Metcalf's store 
now stands. He afterwards built a large wooden block opposite where the Lawrence House now stands. For 
many years he was a successful trader ivith the whites and Indians. The latter trade he monopolized until 
Phelps, the Indian trader, came, after which it was 'livided. &idorsing paper and the credit business Wius the 
cause of reverses ; and not any lack of business capacityf Kever have we had a man among us possessed of 
more energy and perseverance than Dr. "Winfer. Had he possessed the faculty of saying "no"_ he would 
have been the richest man in Lenawee County. Certainly no man had a bettei- opportunity. 

The same year Riifus MeiTick opened a cabinet shop in Mr. Winters' block, and in 1832 built a shop of 
his own, known its tiie Citv Mill and Woolen Factory, 



This year, 1830, the United States census was taken and in this district, Lenawee and Hillsdale County, 

by Musgrove Evans, assistant to the Marshal of Michigan, which will appear by the following schedule of 

"the whole number of persons within the county of lienawee, Territory of Michigan, the 1st day of June, 

1830." (It will be reniembei-ed that Hillsdale county was then included with Lenawee.) ]Mr. Evans' returns 

shows the whole number of inhabitants in this district to be as follows : — 

Hillsdale 75 

Tecumseh 771 

Logan 500 

Blissfield 145 

Total 1,491 

The following is a complete list of names of the F. F.'s, or heads of families of Logan district, which 
included several townships as returned by Musgrove Evans, Assistant Marshal, September 27th, 1830 : 

Darius Comstock, Catharine Fay, Alpheus Hill, Cornelius A. Stout, George Scott, Allen Chaffee, 
Jonathan Harnard, Elijah Brownell, Anson Howell, Samuel Todd, Cary Rogers, James Whitney, John "Wood, 
Pliney Field, Addison J. Comstock, Charles Morris, Hannah Gilford, Robert Smith, Josiah Shumway, 
Patrick Hamilton, John Walswortli, Daniel Smith, Milo Comstock, D. Torrey, Davis D. Bennett, John 
Powers, Anson Jackson, Lyman Pease, Silas Simmons, Lewis Nickerson, Nelson Bradish, William Edmonds, 
Currcn Bradish, Levi Shumway, Daniel Gleason, Samuel Davis, Stephen Fitch, Aaron S. Baker, William 
Foster, Elias Dennis, Nathan Pelton, Turner Stetson, William Jackson, John Arnold, Nathan Comstock, Betsy 
Majjcs, Josejjh Pratt, Abram West, Thomas Sackrider, Daniel Odell, William H. Rowe, Moses Bugby, Samuel 
Weldon, Jeremiah Stone, David Wiley, Noah Norton, Asher Stevens, Samuel Burton, John Comstock, Joseph 
Beals, John Murphy, Samuel S. L. Maples, David Bixby, Charles Haviland, Benjamin Mather, John Chapman, 
Jacob Brown, Jacob Jackson, Job S. Comsf.ock, Elijah Johnson, Samuel Carpenter, Cassander Peters, William 
Brooks, Josiah Baker, Seth Lammon, N. W. Cole, Reuben Davis, John Fitch, Daniel Walsworth, Nehcmiah 
Bassett, Ephriam Dunbar, Isaac Dean, C. N. Ormsby. 

Eighty-three noble and kind-hearted men and women, bold adventurers in a new territory, generous- 
hearted to a fault. Not one we believe, out of the number is now living within the city limits. Over 
sixty are dead, leaving less than twenty living. Some are in this county, while others have emigrated from 
it. To undertake to say M'hich of those eighty-three men performed their part best, would be a ditiicult task. 
It is enough to say that all worked to make it pleasant for each new settler, and although many of them are 
dead they still live in the hearts of those who knew them. 

In the tiill of 1830 Isaac French came to Adrian; his first purchase was lots thirteen, fifteen, and thirty- 
four, on the original plat. He built a hotel on lots thirteen and fifteen, which he kept successfully until 1830, 
M'hen he sold to Pomeroy Stone. This is the corner now occupied by Crane & Livesay and others. 

In the year 1831 Mr. Turner Stetson built the house now known as the Gibson House. In those 
days it was the custom to give each building, after the frame was up, a name. The name given to this building 
by Elias Dennis, father of David B. Dennis, now of Coldwater, was '"The Key to Adrian." 

New settlers were occasionally arriving, some with families and others without. "When a new house was 
raised anywhere in the neighborhood, all turned out to assist. At one time, when nearly every man was absent 



from the jjlacc, a large ininil)er of Indians made their a])pearance in our streets, which caused much alarm 
amon<i- the ladies and children, for the reason that the Indians got gloriously drunk, and made the place hideous 
by their veils. No serious damag(> was done, howe\-er. 

Dr. Bebee came to ^Vdrian this year, had a successful practice in his profession for about a year, caught 
the small pox while attending the family of Jacot} Brown, and died wth it in the summer of 1832. He was 
a voiiMi,' man of fine abilitv, and his death cast a gloom over all who knew him. He was the second physician 
who settled in Adrian. 

The same year Mr. Joseph H. Cleveland opened a store in a building standing between the Gibson House 
and the river. 

The year 1832 was an exciting year for Adrian. This was the year of the Black Hawk AVar, which gave 
us great alarm, especially when an Indian made his appearance in the village. Rumors were rife that large 
numbers of Indian=, were collecting in the woods, and that a general war was at hand. Nothing was talked of 
except battles and defeat, and scalping of white men, women and children. Ask an Indian any questions 
about it and he knew nothing. This only had the effect to alarm the people still more, who supposed they did 
kno\\- l)ut came in occasionally as spies. They were questioned so much when tliey did make their appearance 
that thcv actuallv became alarmc-d themselves. The Indians were as innocent as babes, but the trouble was the 
white settlers had lost confidence. It was but a short time before the able bodied men were called upon to 
shoulder their riiles to defend their families from the bloody tomahawk of the Indian. Th^n came the time 
that tried men's knees. Then it was that such men as Captain Charles M. McKenzie was appreciated in 
Adrian, while cowards and lovers wept like babies, ho was one of the tirst to shoulder his rifle. But it is not our 
purpose to give a history of the Black Hawk War. AYc would leave that to Capt. McKenzie, were he alive, or 
some of his brave comrades that filled the big tree with bullets, at the battle of Coldwatcr. This war and the 
cholera of that year, were about as much as Adrian could stand. The nearest case of cholora was in Detroit, 
and the nearest hostile Indian to Adrian was the Mississippi river. 

Captain Charles M. McKenzie settled in Adrian in the spring of 1832. He commenced making brick on 
the farm of Captain James Whitney, boarded with Isaac French, and lodged with his men in Mr. M'hitney's 
barn. Mr. McKenzie died November 21st. 1871, aged 71 years. 

November 22d, 1832, Dr. Parley J. Spaulding came to Adrian. This was justly considered an acquisition 
to tlie place, as time has proven. The Doctor still lives, to enjoy the fruits of his hard earnings on the lot 
he i)in-chased the 2.5th of February, 1833. He is the only person who lives on the original plat who purchased 
his lot direct from Addison J. Conistock. He was the third doctw who settletl in Adrian, and has always 
enjoyed the respect of the citizens, and will while he lives. He has held prominent positions, such as Register 
of Deeds, Mayor of our City, and was at one time a i>rominent candidate for Congress, and was only defeated 
by a division in his own party. He is a true Democrat, "long may he live." 

During the year 1832 the Presbyterian Church Society built the first church in the village. It was located 
on Church street, where it still can be seen. 

In 1833 Allen Hutchins and Joseph Chittenden, Jr., came to Adrian. They v.-ore young men, la^^Ters 
by profession. Hutchins purchased the five acres of land of James Whitney, now owned by Redfield & 



10. 



Kimball, where stand those beautiful oaks in front. (The writer of this helped cut off the tops of those trees 
forty-three years ago.) INIr. Hutehins held this property until he became a defaulter to the United States, 
when it was confiscated, sold, and purchased by the present owners. Mr. Hutehins has been dead many years. 
Joseph Chittenden, Jr., was a young man of splendid talents, finely educated, and on'^ of the most 
promising young men in the Territory. He married the daughter of the late Dv. A\ ebb, and died October 6th, 
1834, — ten months after his marriage. He was the brother of the Misses Chittendens, Olive and Mary Ann, 
also IMrs. Henry Hart. 

The year 1834 was a sad one for Adrian, hardly a family escaped sickness. Our doctors were riding night 
and day. Many citizens died that year. Among them Mrs. Amelia Ann Oi-msby, the wife of Dr. Ornisby. 
She died October 7th, 1834, the next day after Joseph Chittenden, Jr., died. The date on her tomb-stone in 
the old cemetery, where she is buried, is October 7th, 1835. This is a mistake; it should be October 7th, 1834. 
She was a noble woman. On her tomb stone is the following: "The record of her virtues is engraven upon 
the hearts of those who knew her." Her age was twenty-seven years. 

Daniel Jones died September 4th, this same year. Elias Dennis, one of the oldest citizens, died this year 
also. 

October 22d, 1834, R. W. Ingals commenced the ijublication of the Lenawee RepubUean and Adrian 
Gazette, — afterwards Watch Toioer. This was the first paper published in Lenawee County. 

In 1835, Ashel Finch, .Jr., and Abel Whitney, both of whom had been engtiged in the dry goods business, 
opened the first drug store in Adrian. It Mas located on lot number thirty, north side of Maumee street, and 
is now owned by John Kinzel, extending back about eighty feet. 

May, 1835, Daniel D. Sinclair came to Adrian. He, also, has held important positions from time to time. 

This year Elihu L. Clark located in Adrian. He opened a small dry goods store near the hotel of Isaac 
French, in a building built by Mr. French for a blacksmith shop. He has accumulated a large fortune, and 
lives to-day, supposed to be worth half a million. 

The Baptist Church Society held their meetings, in 1835, in the upper room of the house now owned by 
William A. Whitney. William R. Powers taught a select school in the same room, in the same year. 

In the fall of 1836, Dr. D. K. Underwood came to Adrian, and opened a drug store where John Kinzcl's 
store now stands on Maumee street. He has done his share towards building up our city, amassed a large 
property, and lives to enjoy it. 

It has occa.sionally been said that Mr. Comstock, the founder and proprietor of Adrian in an early day, 
charged extravagant prices for his village property which he held for sale. In answer to this I would refer the 
reader to the following sales of city property by Mr. Comstock, and their dates, and ask if this charge was true. 
To me it looks unfounded: — 

December 19th, 1828, Mr. Comstock sold to Charles Sleeper lot No. 40, fronting four and a half rods on 
Main street, and nine rods on Maumee street, containining forty and a half square rods. Consideration 
This is the corner where the First National Bank now stands. 



11. 



!M:ircli 2d, 1830, he sold Mrs. Marian Stevens the property M-here Redfield & Kimball now reside, 
rumiin^t from tlic tannery south as far as Walter Whipple's lot, lyia^ bstween M lin and South Winter streets, 
and cniitainiiiti' 4 lt.'>-li»(l acres of kind, for the consideration of tiiirly (30) dollars. 

March 2(3th, 1831, Mr. Comstociv sold to I.-^aac Fi-ench lots thirteen and fifteen, fronting nine rods on 
!Main street and nine rods on Maumee street which is the corner occupied by Crane & Livesay, and also lot 
number thirty-four, ])art of which is now owned and occupied by Wm. A. Whitney, Maumee street, all included 
in one deed. Consideration, seventy (70) dollars. 

February 2o, 1833, Mr. C. sold to Dr. P. J. Spaulding lot number thirty-two, on which the latter now 
lives, fronting five rods on Maumee street and fifteen rods deep; for the consideration ot fift\' (50) dollars. 

In the year 1835, Mr. A. J. Corastock sold to Asahel Finch, Jr., and Abt>l Whitney village lot number 
thirty, on the north side of Maumse street, five rods front and nine deep, for the consideration of fiftv (50) 
dollars. 

But few understand the trials and perjilexitics of settling a new country, and what the old residents of Adrian 
had to contend with in its early settlement. The county seat of Lenawee County, being first established in 
Tecumseh, was the cause of much strife and opposition between the two rival villages, and the war wa.s kept up 
until this year, when Tecumsdi was compelled by an act of L'gislature to yield to justice, and the county seat 
was removed to Adrian. Mr. Comstoek, being more interested, probably did more towards accomplishino- this 
object, than any other man. 

The year 1836 the Erie & Kalamazoo railroad, which had been in progress for two years, was completed 
to Adrian, amid great rejoicing of the people. Tiiis opened a market long needed, the value of which canhardlv 
be estimated. This road was one of the first built in the United States, and the first in Michigan. Thedav of 
its completion was a gala day for the citizens of Adrian. 

For this enterprise Mr. A. J. Comstoek, his father, Darius Comstoek, George Crane, Joseph Gibbous aud 
Dr. C. N. Ormsby, in connection with gentlemen from Toledo, deserve the gratitude of Adrian. 

Adrian Lodge Xo. 8, I. O. O. F., was instituted March Gth, 1835, by R. W. P. G., B. F. Hi»ll,andR. W. 
P. G., J. H. Mullett, of ilichigan Lodge No. 1, when the following officers were installed: Daniel D. 
Sinclair, N. G.; Sebre Howard, A\ G.; Charles Smith, S.; R. W. IngaLs, T. 

The first band in this place was organized in 1838, by an Englishman named William Tutten, from Utica, 
New York, and was called the "Adrian Brass Band." This band went to Fort Meigs in 1840 with the 
Lenawee County delegation, to attend the great Harrison mass meeting. At this time it was led by Willi im 
C. Hunt, who now lives in the I'ity. General Joseph W. Brown was in command of the ^lichigan delegation 
at this great meeting, and held an umbrella over General Harrison while he was speaking. 

William Barnes built the first reservoir in the village in the summer of 1839, at a cost of $111 33. 

Alert Fire Co-npany No. 1 was officially organized June 19th, 1841. Following are the names of the 
original members of the company : D. K. Underwood, Joseph H. AVood, Milo Weins, S. V. R. Smart, R. 
Merrick, W. S. Wilcox, S. W. Van Yosburg, J. J. Newell, Isaac Paulding, R. Smart, A. Barnard, Thomas S. 
Baker, Samuel Smith, C. R. Watson, Phi. Tabor, T. D. Ramsdell, Charles lugersall, R. W. Ingals, James 



12. 



Mills, J. H. Woodbury, E. H. Rice, W. M. Conistock, John Harkness, Charles W. Hunt. The machine was 
purchased from Lewis Selye, of llochester, New York, at a cost of $813. 

Hook and Ladder Company was officially organized June 19th, 1841. Following are the names of the 
original members: A. W. Budlong, A. S. Berry, L. G. Berry, J. H. Chittenden, Joel Carpenter, Washington 
Harwood, Henry Hart, Horace Mason, N. L. P. Pierce, Charles Philbrook, Clement Smith, Randall W. 
Smith. March 11th, 1842, the Village Council appropriated the sum of |90 for the purchase of a truck for the 
iLse of the company. We also notice on the records that Henry Hart, who was then a Trustee, offered a 
resolution to purchase three axes for the use of the company. The truck was built by William C. Hunt. 

Benjamin Anderson, D. K. Underwood, E. W. Fairfield, and Amos Biglow were the first Fire Wardens 
of the village, and were appointed December 17th, 1841. Carlisle Norwood was the first Chief Emriueer. 

The Adrian Guards, the first military company regularly equipped by the State in Lenawee County, was 

organized May 10th, 1842, by Daniel Hicks, who was elected Captain, which office he held until the year 1847 

when he went to Mexico in command of a company. F. J. King was First Lieutenant, Edwin Comstock 

Second Lieutenant, William Aldrich Orderly Sergcnt. In 1843 George W. Hicks was elected Orderly he 

being the best ilrill-master in the company. Charles M. Croswell was elected Captain after Captain Hicks 

and held the office until the next annual election, when Frederick Hart was made Captain, which position he 

held up to April, 1861, M'ith the exception of one year — 1855 — when Justice H. Bodwell was made Captain. 

We find in an old Detroit Advertiser an account of the first military encampment ever held in this place, which 

occurred on the 4th of July, 1843. The encampment consisted of the Brady Guar Is, cf Detroit, the Monroe 

City Guards, the Toledo Guards, and the Adrian Guards. Pomeroy Stone was Quaitermaster of the 

encampment. The narrator in the Advertiser says: 

" I do not hesitate to pronounce the Adrian Guards the best drilled company of its age which can be found anvwhere. Its members 
wore a neat uniform, and appeared full of the genuine military spirit. Captain Hicks, their commander, is a perfect gentleman. I 
would say the same of Captain Hill aiid Mundy, the first of the Toledo, the second of the Washtenaw Guards. The Toledo Guards 
have a beautiful uniform; tiie Washtenaw's one very similar to our own, except they wore black shoulder-knots and plumes. I cannot 
speak too higlily of the soldierly and gentlemanly bearing of the men of each companies ; we were taken by the hand by them all and 
treated in a manner we never sliall forget. The Sabbath was spent very appropriately, by a prompt attendance at the several churches 
to which the companies were assigned. The great day of days, the 4th of July, Wiis ushered in amid the roar of cannon the wild 
beating of drums, and vociferous cheering of thousands of iron-nerved men — every heart was full — all eyes beamed with a new lustre 
and gladness and joy trembled on every tongue. Long before daylight the people from the country began to pour in, and by 10 o'clock' 
the time assigned for forming the prossession, not less than 6,000 people were in Adrian." ' 

Protection Fire Company No. 2 was organized in October, 1845. Perry B. Truax was the first Foreman 
W. Huntington Smith, Assistant Foreman, and F. C. Beaman, Secretary. The engine arrived in December 
the same year, and cost $990. 

The first Masonic lodge organized in the village was "Adrian Lodge, No. 19," on July 28th, 1847, by E. 
Smith Lee, Grand Master of Michigan at that time. The origiiuil officers were, John Barber, W. Master; 
William Moore, S. W. ; Warner Comstock, Jun. W.; Jonathan Berry, Treasurer; David Horton, Secretary; 
David Bixby, Sen. Deacon; William Talford, Jun. Deacon; Samuel Anderson, Tyler. 

Oak Wood Cemetery was opened to the public for burial purposes in the summer of 1848. 

Oscar Stevens, nephew of A. and William A. Whitney, was the first person buried there, July 31st, 1848, 
aged five years and two months. Isaac C. Dean died December 11th, 1867, aged 87 years. Abigail C. Dean, 
his wife, died in the same year, May 11th, aged 77 years. David Bixby died January 4th, 1865, aged 82 years. 



13. 



d* 



Abram Truax diwl December 3(1, 1862, aged 68 years. James Wbitney dietl August 11th, 1851, aged 68 
years and six months. Mrs. James Wliitney died the same year, August 24tli, aged 65 years and two months. 
Mrs. Ira IJuck (li('<l Marcii 25tii, 1874, agp<l 70 years and three days. Mrs. W. S. Wilcox died Fc'oruary 11th, 
1852, aged 27 vears and six montiis. William B. Whitney died January 7th, 1858, aged 44 years. Mrs. 
Noah Norton died August 27th, 1857, agcnl Gti years. Judge Barber died April 15th, 18G7, aged 75 years. 
Dr. E. C. Winter died December llth, 1867, aged 65 years. Daniel A. Loomis died February 22d, 1868; 
Mr. Loomis was elected Mayor in April, 1862. Colonel L. L. Comstock was killed in battle near Knoxville, 
Tennessee, November 25th, 1863, in his 39th year. Addison J. Comstock died January 20th, 1867, aged 65 
years and three months ; he was the first Mayor elected under the cit/ charter. Sarah S. Comstock, his wife, 
died November 10th, 1872, aged 67 years and two months. J. H. Bodwell died September 1st, 1864, agetl 44 
years. John D. Campbell died in Boston August 1st, 186:?, aged 51 years. Mr. Campbell was elected Mayor 
in April, 1863. He was General Superintendent of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad. 
Colonel W. Huntington Smith was killed at the battle of Campbell's Station, Tennessee, November 16th, 1863, 
aged 40 years. Colonel D. A. Woodbury was killed at the battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia, July 1st, 1862, 
aged 38 years. Isaac French died May 2d, 1856, aged 60 years. S. P. Jermain, one of the founders of the 
Michigan Expositor, died in Chillicothe, Ohio, May 9th, 1868; his remains lie in Oakwood Cemetery. Alonzo 
F. Bixl)v died April 18th, 1870. The whole number of interments in Oak Wood Cemetery, from January 
1st, 1850, to July 1st, 1874 is 2,314. There seems to be no record previous to January 1st, 1850. In 1864 
there was the largest number of interments of any year in the history of the cit}' ; the number being 180. 

The Adrian and Bean Creek Plank Road Company was organized on the 4th of May, 1848, with a 
capital stock of $75,000, divided into 3,000 shares. The original charter was from this city to Bean Creek, 
but an extension was granted, and it was built as far as Gambleville, in Hillsdale County, where it intersected 
witli the Chicago Turnpike. During the year the survey was made, the right of way purchased, and the 
contracts let for lumber and construction. The first plank of the road w-as laid in this city, in the spring of 
1849. Commencing on Front street, oppasite where the County Offices now stand, planks were laid up Main 
street to Maumee, and on Mauraee street west to Addison, etc. A. J. Comstock was the first President, Henry 
Jones, Secretary, and E. L. Clark, Treasurer. 

James Sword was elected President of the Village of Adrian in 1852, and made Mayor, by act of the 
Legislature, in January, 1853. 

The Court House, with many valuable records, was destroyed by fire on the morning of March 14th, 1852 

The Adrian Gas Light Company was chartered by City Ordinance, June 18, 1855. The company consisted 
of Beiiijah Barker, H. P. Piatt, George H. Wynian, L. C. Thayer. The Common Council that year was as 
follows: F. J. Buck, Mayor; Aldermen, L. P. Bowen, R. J. Bradley, E. P. Linnell, J. H.Cleveland, A. J. 
Dean, W. E. Kimball, F. R. Stebbins, W. S. Wilcox. 

By a resolution of the Common Council, passed June 8th, 1858, it was resolved to lay down the present 
pavemen*;, with the exception of Maiden Lane, which was done at a later date. There was quite a fight in the 
Council over the matter, and the resolution was finally pa.ssed by the c;isting vote of the Mayor. The Council 



14. 



this year consisted of W. L. Greenly, Mayor ; Aldermen, Chester Farmer, C. M. Croswell, E. A. Washburn, 

J. H. Kennedy, A. L. Millard, Chester Buck, Frederick Hart, E. P. Andrews. 

The Steam Fire D3partrai3nt was organizsi on Friday, October 11th, 1807, consisting of two steamers 

with atteudent Hose Carts, and one Hook and Ladder Company. R. J. Bradley was appointed Chief 

Engineer, and James Redmond Assistant. 

The Adrian Union School was organized in 1848-9, by the consolidation of the several school districts in 

the village. The first term or two was held in the old "Hanse School House" on Maumee street, where John 

Kinzel's two stores now stand. J. W. Southworth was the first Principal of the school. In the fall of 1849 

the old American Hotel building was leased for school purposes, and was used until the Union School building 

was completed, which was in 1852. The first Director of the Union School Board was Henry Hart. The 

"Public Schools of the City of Adrian" were incorporated by act of Legislature March .31st, 1861. The old 

Central School building was destroyed by fire on the morning of August 10th, 1866. The present Central 

Building was erected in 1868. 

The Daily and Weekly Watcheoiver ceased publication, after an existence of thirty-four vears, on Saturday', 

September 9th, 1865. The office was sold at that time to \\ illiam Humphrey, who, on the followino- Mondav 

September 11th, issued the Daili/ Times. 

The State Fair v.'as held in this city in 1865, commencing September 19th and continuing four days. It 

was also held here the following year. 

The corner stone of the Masonic Temple was laid June 21, 1865, and the building was occupied the 

following year. 

The first Lenawee County Fair was held in this city in Sejjtember, 1 849. 

In the beginning of the winter of 1838 Silas Crane and Abel Whitney furnished the material for tlie 

superstructure for the first two miles of the M. S. R. R. west of the city of Monroe, and during the summer of 

'38 and the winter of '39 graded and built the road from the Leroy bridge to the crossing on South Main street 

in this city. 

The blinds ou A. Whitney's house were the first on any house in this city, and the first in the south half 

of licnawee County, and so far as wear is concerned, appear to be good for fifty years to come, having already 

been in use thirty-nine years. 

Weaker Whipple, Esq., of this city, furnishes us with an incident of early times, which we thirdv worthv 
of a place in our work: "In August, 1828, I was at Darius Comstock's house, when he showed me a field of 
sixty acres in corn, which he assured me would harvest sixty bushels to the acre. Those who remember the 
year 1829, when credit was struck deail by the panic, when pi-operty could not be sold or debts collected at the 
East, can recall the sufferings endured by the imigrants who had paid their last dollar for lands, teams 
improvements, and the expense of living the* first year without crojw to harvest, or any visible means of 
subsistence. During the fall of this year Dr. Patterson went to Mr. Comstock to purchase corn. Mr. 
Comstock refused to sell him the corn, telling him that he had money and a team, and that he could o-o to 
Monroe or Ohio and get all he wanted. Said he, 'I have many neighbors who have no cash, who will suffer 
unle&s they have corn.' Another man told me he wanted lumber to finish his house. The lumber was 
measured, but Darius' partner would not let the lumber go without the money. He told Darius of his trouble 
who told him to take as much lumber as he wanted, and bring him the bill. It was such traits of character as 
this that caused the early settlers of Adrian to gather around him. When he lay upon his last bed of sickness 
he said to Dr. AVebb, 'I have thought of this a great deal — I think I am not mistaken — I think I am right."' 



15. 



TECUMSEH: 



95St5>_ 



f^-^jp N the autumn of 18'2o, ]\Iusgrove Evans, Esq., a native of Pennsylvania, and bclonn:ingto the Soeiety 
<»^,^ 'Jof Friends, left Jetierson County, in the State of New York, to exj)lore the West, and, should fortune 
^■^viil^f? smile, to enjoy those smiles more near to the setting sun. On arriving at Detroit, he found some friends, 
and made the acquaintance of Austin E. ^Ving. Mr. Wing had been a resident in the Territor)' for several years 
— some six or seven. Of the comparative merits of its various localities, he was well qualified to Judge. lie 
at once suggested to Mr. Evans the Valley of the Raisin, as a region of s]>eeial attraction, beautiful, rich and 
iiill of promise. After some ex|)lorations of other points, Mr. Evans was inclined to accept ^Ir. Wing's 
judgment in the matter, and resi)lved in the coming spring to investigate the claims of this new iield. He 
immediately returned home to Jetierson County, Nev York, and, during the following winter, wtus actively 
engaged in efforts to interest and enlist his friends in his western enterprise. He was quite successful. 

Early in the spring Mr. Evans, with his wife and five children, General J. W. Brown, his brother-in-law, 
E. F. Blood, Turner Stetson, Nathan Rathbone, and Peter Lowry, started together for Detroit. They i)assed 
up Lake Ontario, and Niagara River, to Black Rock. There they and some other gentlemen, from Buffalo, 
chartered the schooner Erie, the famed craft which subsequently went over the Falls of Niagara; and, ascending 
the Lake, arrived in Detroit on the last of April, 1824. Here the men left their families, and having 
chartered a Frenchman and pony, to carry their baggage, started into the woods on foot, and fijllowing an 
Lillian trail, took a western course to Ypsilanti, thence to Saline, and thence onward still, until they struck the 
River Raisin, some little distance above the point where now stands the village of Clinton. Here, they 
discharged the Frenchman and his jiony, and allowed them to return. They now took their provisions, etc., 
upon their backs, and pursued a south-westerly direction, till they reached Evans Creek, which they descended 
to the point of land on which the "Globe Mill" now stands. 

At this place they encamped, and, for a week or more, were busily occu])ied in viewing the country, but 
more especially, the streams — the Raisin ai,d Evans Creek — and the form of their banks, and the bordering 
valleys, the idea of obtaining a good water-power being a leading object of pursuit. It is proper to say here 
that Mr. Wing had been of gretit service to jMr. Evans and his co-adventurers, and, although.no agreement of 
a binding character had been entered into, yet so much had passed between them as to authorize a mutual 
exj)ectation that he, in some way, and to some extent, would aid the fortunes of their enterprise. Having this idea 
in view, from the time Mr. Evans took leave of him in Detroit, during the preceeding autumn, and learning that 
immigrants were exti nsively exploring in Washtenaw County, and j)arts adjacent, and fearing that the advantages 
at the liinctions of E\ an Creek and the Raisin might be found, appreciateil and snatched away, had the sagacity 
and prudence to enter the lands adjacent in his own name. T'hese lands were the west part of Section tvventy- 
SL'ven and east part of Section twenty-eight and included the water-iiower in Brownville. Mr. Evans and 
his associa ,ps, having i-atisfied themselves that they had found if not the best point in the interior of the Territory, 
they had at least found a location worthy of their acceptance, resolved to secure it. 

With this purpose, they gathered their effects and started for the "Land Office." On reaching Monroe 
they found Mr. Wing. Immediately Messrs. Wing, Evans & Bro vn entered into a formal co-partnership, and 
took up the north half of Section thirty-four. The adjacent lands were soon taken up by the companions of 
Mr. Evans, and adventurers from other places. 

IMessrs. Wing, Evans & Brown, liaving formed a co-partnership, and secured a location, deemed it 
important to their inteie-ts, if possible, to have it made the county seat. With a view to this, they delegated 
Mr. Brown to visit Governor Cass, at Detroit, and request him to nominate Commissioners to visit Tecumseh, 
and, if it should be deemed advisable, to designate it as the seat of justice for the county. The Governor 
treated the request with obliging consideration, and named Messrs. C. J. Lanmon, Oliver Johnson, and one 
other gentleman that committee. The committee, in due time, entered upon their mission, examined the 
situation, and aj)|)n)ved of it. On the last of June, 1824, the Legislature was in session, and the committee 
being |ircscnt, made their report, which was accepted and adopted. In consideration of this enactment it was 
stipidated that, in laying out the grounds for a village, the Company, NV'ing, Evans & Brown, should set apart 



It). 



for the public benefit, four squares; one for the court house and jail, one for a public promenado, one for a 
cemetery, and one for a military parade ground, and build a bridge across the River Rasin east of tlie village. 
The Company accepted the condition, and iippropriated for the court house and jail a square on the north-east 
cornc of Alaumee and Chiciigo streets ; for pleasure ground, a square on the south-east corner of Mauaiee and 
Chicago streets; for a cemetery, a square on the south-east sorner of Ottawa and Killbuck streets; for a 
military parade ground, a square having Shawnee street on the north, Ottawa on the ea^t, and, what is now 
styled Railroad street on the west. The bridge was also built. 

On the first Monday in June, 1824, Mr. Evans and Peter Benson, with their families, left Monroe, and 
started for what had now become the "bright particular" gem of the Raisin Valley — Teeumseh. 

After a difficult journey through a nearly pathless wilderness, and over the low and marshy grounds that 
intervened, they arrived at the place of their destiny on the following day, June 2d, 1824, about five o'clock in 
the afteruoon. There being no means of crossing the Raisin, on the land now owned by Wing, Evans & Co., 
i. e. on the east side of what afterwards became the village j)lot, they passed round upon the north side of the 
river and encamped upon the land which Mr. Wing had purchased the fall or winter previous, at the point 
wliereou now (1869) stands the cooper .-hop, a few rods north of the Brownville mill. Here Mr. Ev;uis erected 
a log house, twenty feet square. It was without any floor, as there was no saw-miil nearer than Monroe, and 
covered with bark peeled from the trunks of elm trees. During the sur.imer it iiad iieitiier cliimney nor fire 
place. For cooking purposes a fire was made upon tlie ground, the smoke, when tiie atmosphere was in repose 
ascended through a hole in the roof; at other times it went up or down, or here or there, as played the fitful 
winds. A bake-kettle supplied the [dace of an oven for several months, during wliich time Mrs. Evans 
prepared food for her husband and children, for the workmen in his employ, together with "goers and corners," 
amounting usually to from fifteen to twenty persons. 

In the aulu an Mr. Brown, wife, and five children arrived; also Mr. Gorge -^ipaffird an 1 wife. A bed- 
room was added t) the house, and an oven and cliimney built, the oven standing out and some distance from 
the house. Here Mr. Evans, wife and five children, Mr. Brown, wife and five children, the youngest diild of 
each family being a small infant, and Mr. Spatfbrd and his life, all domiciled during the winter of 1824-5. 

During the summer of 1824 Mr. Evans, being a surveyor, laid out the village plot. It was laid out into 
squares of twenty-four rods each, and each square into eight lots, each lot being six by twelve r<>ds — twelve rods 
north and south, and six rods east and west. The squares, so-called, set apart for the court house and public 
promenade being, in fact, but two one-half squares. 

In the summer jf 1825 Joseph W. Brown built a frame house on the corner lot, bounded on the north by 
Chicago street, and on the west by Maumee street. This was the first frame house erected in the county of 
Lenawee, and besides furnishing private apartments for the owner and his family, contained others also, wiiich 
were opened for the entertainment of travelers, and other transient persons. At that time it w;\s the first and 
only public house in the Territory west of Monroe. 

in the same year, during the summer of 1825, a Mr. Knaggs, a Frenchman, from Mor.voe, purchased the 
lot on the south-west corner of Chicago and JNIaumee streets, and built a store which he open cd, in jiart to aid the 
new settlers, but mainly for the purpose of driving bargain^ with the Indians. This enterprise proved, both 
directly and indirectly, of much benefit to the new settlers. They iiere found, at least io a limited exient, such 
commodities as, otherwise, they would have suffered seriously the want of, and, besids, it induced the Indians, 
still lingering in the neighboring woods, to come in and trade with the ccmimunity. In 182U Mr. Evans took the 
initial, and made some advances iu the work of building a more comfortable abode for his tiunily. It was completed, 
^Te believe, the following season, and, as iu the case of Mr. Brown's before him, it became the comiintable 
abode of his family, and also a house of public entertainment. JNIany who there found shelter from the storm, 
reliet from hunger and thurst, rest from weariness, with generous sympathy and sootiiing cordials when burning 
fever and death-like ague was upon them, took pleasure in after years in speaking of thjse things, — so.nj lo.ig 
ago and forever silent, others still live, with tearful gratitude, to repeat the grateful story. 

In 1827 Mr. Brown, whom we style General now, sold his house, on Maumee street, to James T. Boiland, 
went over to Brownville and built, of hewed logs, the house so long known as the "Peninsular House." 

In the fall of 1824 the Company of Wing, Evans & Brown, resolved lo buiit a saw mill. For such a 
mill the want was very great. The inhabitants were indeed few, but that few were in greit want of lumber. 
Without it they could not construct shelters either for themselves or their stock. The trame of the mill was 
soon raised, the machinery got iuto position, the waiting waters let on, and the saw was playing, as though 
instinct with life, and actually felt that it was a "luxury to do good." Thus was completed the first saw mill 
in the County of Lenawee, and, no successor has ever tound a warmer welcome. 

Early in the spring of 1826, Wing, Evans & Brown resolved to build a grist mill. The frame was 
soon raised. And now for the stones — an item indeed, in a grist mill. Fi-ench burrs were q ite too costly 
for their limited means. It so happened that, about a mile and a halt' away, and a little north of ea-:t, in a 
district where a stone was one of the rarest things of natur.', there was found an immense bowlder — a large 
rock of pure granite. Uhey were not geologists; hcuce they asked no questions about its origin, from whence 



17. 



it came, or how it got there. Enough that it was there. They fell upon it in earnest. AVith drills and poM-der 
thev soon split ott' two large slabs, each ofwhieh they wrought into stone of suitable size to answer their purj)ose. 
And, what was (juite remarkable, the stone contained an element resembling clay-slate, which in working, 
crumbled out, leaving a surface not wholly unlike the genuine burr — millstone grit. 

It is proper to add that this mill Wius able to grind about ten bushels of grain per hour; and for five or six 
years was the only grist mill in the interior of the Territory. 

THE BLACK HAWK AND TOLEDO WARS. 

The following is an extract from a speech by Dr. M. A. Patterson, before the Rasin Valle)' Historical 
Society, at Tecumseh, June 2d, 18138: — 

" According to the law of the valley, every male settler was a voter, without being over particular respecting his 
age, provided he could handle an axe and was stout and strong. Our people had been too busy to pay much attention 
to politics. But there was one man who seemed to regard it as a solemn duty, on no account to be neglected, and lor 
six years he aunually voted himself in Justice of the Peace. We are not aware that he tried a single case during all 
this long period. Universal harmony and peace prevailed, and a rogue or a thief was unknown. But the new 
comers of 1831 were fresh from the political fields of the East, and believed in the principle of "rotation in ofKce." 
At the next town election there came out of the woods of what are now known as the towns of Kasiu, Ridgeway, 
Macon and Franklin, a body of strangers who had never been seen at our polls before, and to the no small indignation 
and astonishment of Squire Thomas (iootlrich, our sole magi-strate and Justice of the Peace for six years, without a 
case on his docket, a host of new men rotated him out of office, in order, as they said, to establish in this Valley a 
great political principle. 

But our new friends had scarcely exercised the important privilege of the elective franchise a second time, 
indeed they were scarcely well established in their new homes until they were called upon, in common with the older 
settlers, to defieud them, and perhaps to shed their blood in defense of their homes. 

In May, 1832, Owen, the Indian Agent at Chicago, sent dispatch riders, with all possible haste, to Detroit, who, 
on the way, spread through our feeble settlement the startling intelligence that the 8ac and the Fox Indians, under 
Black Hawk, wore on the war-path, threatening to exterminate the whites from the Upper Mississippi to the lower 
lakes. The treacherous character of the American Indian is proverbial, and the danger of a union of the hostile 
western tribes, with the seemingly friendly Potawattomies, of Michigan, who were all around us, was by no means 
improbable. It was an alarming fact that within two or three days after the news of the hostile intention of the 8ac 
and Fox Indians reached us, the Potawattomies suddenly disappeared. Not an lud'an could be found in our vicinity 
or neighborhoods. Were they lurking in the dense forest.s of the valley waiting for orders to spring upon us with deadly 
intentions, or gone to new hunting or tishiig grounds far beyond us? were questions often asked, but which no one could 
answer. Untd the locality and designs ot the missing Indians were ascertained, the first intimation of their intentions 
and presence might have been amid scenes that have been witnessed again and again on our Western frontier, by the 
glare of our burning dwellings at midnight, amid the shrieks of women and children, the groans of the dying, and the 
iiellish war whoop of savages. At the bare possibility of such a fete, anxiety was depicted on the countenances of 
brave men, and there was not a mother in the settlement who did not fold her child still closer to her bosom. 

Against a hostile union of the powerful western savages, each armed w'ith a deadly rifle, and skilled in its use,, 
the scattered settlements on the line from Detroit to Chicago were almost defenseless. And there was cause of alarm 
when it was known that the United States Agent had urged uj)ou our Governor an immediate draft of the men of 
Michigan to check the advance of the Indians, until the regular government troops could be mustered on the frontier 
and hurled against them. 

As soon as it was ascertained that the Potowattomies had left us for a gathering of their tribe in the St. Joseph 
Valley, and at a council of their chiefs and our Territorial authorities, seemed peacefully inclined, all apprehension of 
immediate danger from this quarter was removed. The alacrity then with which the Eighth Regiment, composed of 
citizens of this valley, marched to the relief of the settlements beyond us, when they had reason to exiject a bloody 
contest, proved that our pioneers were of the right stock, and as ready to fight as to work, when occasion demanded an 
exhibition of their prowess. 

The details of the Black Hawk war,, and of the duties performed by our citizens in that contest, are too 
voluminous for our present purpose, and may well form an interesting chapter hereafter in the proceedings of this 
society. 

During three succeeding years after the close of this war, emigration to this valley was large and on the increase, 
and our citizens were earnestly engaged in literally fulfilling the primeval command to " multiply and subdue tlie 
earth," or at least, this part of it 

They were also preparing for the great work of changing their political condition of territorial dependence to the 
independent position of a State in the Union. But while engaged in these pursuits, we were again called to arras to 
defend our soils from the unlawful claims and threatening aggressions of Ohio. 

It is customary in these days, when the whole thing is settled and the danger gone by, to smile when the Toledo 
war is named, and to regard it as a " tempest in a tea-pot." This only proves entire ignorance of the merits of that 



18. 



contest. There was an unquestionable attempt made by the authorities of Ohio, and in this remark we do not by any 
means include the whole people of that State, backed by a formidable array of force, to plunder from our Territory 
the only secure harbor on our southern border, and a large tract of valuable land. Plundering is a strong term, but 
we have no milder word that will properly apply to this act of the Legislature and Governor of Ohio. 

The boundary of the Territory of Michigan was clearly defined by an act of Congress, so far back as 1805, 
which had never been amended, and which left the disputed tract in Michigan. But Ohio, not with the sanction of 
Congress, but by the action of her own convention, extended her boundaries so as to include the long narrow strip in 
question, provided, as expressly stated by her own convention, at the time, "Congress agreed thereto." 

Seven or eight times during a period of thirty years, and down to the very time of our contest, Ohio had solicited 
Congress to sanction her claim, or, in plainer language, to gratify her ambition for territorial aggrandisement, and 
Congress had, as repeatedly, refused to do so. In the mean time the land, including the harbor at Toledo, was in 
possession of Michigan. Our towns, counties, and public roads were all arranged within the territory unlawfully 
claimed by Ohio, to suit the boundary established by Congress. Such was the strength of our title that the Attorney 
General of the United States, in an opinion written and published at the request of President Jackson, declared it 
unquestionable, and the venerable John Quincy Adams, on the floor of the House of Representatives, in a strong 
protest, also declared that it would be a gross violation of the plighted faith of the nation to take this land from a 
feeble Territory and give it to a powerful State. 

But when was unscrupulous ambition ever arrested by simple appeals to the eternal principles of justice and 
right? Governor Lucas, by virtue of an act of the Ohio Legislature, passed in 183-5, called out' a body of his militia 
to protect the Commissioners appointed to survey the boundary line, and to take possession of the "disputed territory " 
on behalf of Ohio, by force, if resisted. 

Information soon reached Tecumseh, by express, that the Commissioners of Ohio were actually running the 
boundary line on our .southern border, at the west end of the " disputed territory," and had, by a rapid movement, 
proceeded as far east as about fourteen miles due south of Adrian. Affidavit of the facts having been made by the 
express before a magistrate, agreeable to the provisions of an act of our Legislative Council, passed February 12th, 
1835, entitled "An act to prevent the exerci.se of foreign jurisdiction within the limits of the Territory of Michigan." 
The Sherifl" of our county, James Patchin, being sick. Deputy Sheriff Colonel William McNair, assisted by General 
Brown, who was the Agent of our Territory to watch the proceedings of Ohio, soon gathered a posse. Among them, 
besides Brown and McNair, were Stillman Blanchard, John Robinson, Moses Wright, Sumner Spofford, O. Hough, 
Benjamin Baxter, and about twenty more whose names are forgotten. Thepos.se was strengthened in Adrian by a 
few recruits, mustering in all about forty armed men, who, by a rapid march, surprised a division of the surveying 
party of Ohio, with their military escort, while comfortably refreshing themselves in a house in the wilderness, owned 
by a man named Phillips. They had not the least suspicion that the Wolverines were on their trail. 

While our posse quietly surrounded the house Colonel McNair and Judge Blanchard entered. The Judge, with 
his customery politeness, took of his cap, and after making his best bow, civilly requested them to surrender to his 
friend, Colonel McNair, Sheriff of Lenawee County. A.ssuming a belligerent attitude. Colonel Hawkins fiercely 
demanded by what authority they presumed to arrest the legal officers of the powerful State of Ohio. Judge 
Blanchard immediately replied, " By the authority of the liCgislative and Executive power of Michigan ;" and in 
order to make it more emphatic, in a loud voice, so that the outsiders might hear him. Colonel McNair exclaimed, 
" By virtue of the posse of Wolverines here present we will arrest you." In an instant the Ohioans leveled their 
pieces and threatened to shoot our two friends. At this critical moment the posse gave a sliout that took the pluck 
out of the invaders, they made a dash for the door and took to their heels, having learned, perhaps, from Hudibras, 
that 

"He who fights and runs aw ay, 
May live to fight another day, 
But he who is in battle slain 
Will never live to fight again." 

As they were fleeing for the woods a few guns fired over their heads, by order of Gen Brown, brought some of 
them to a stand. The surveyor and eight of the party were captured and brought to Tecumseh, to be dealt with 
according to law. 

The Ohio commissioners were at the time in another house, not far from that of Phillips. They with the 
remainder of the armed force, frightened at the report of fire-arms, left their f.iends to take care of themselves and 
fled into the woods where they could not be found, Thus ended the first scene of this border drama. 

The second was played at Maumee, and is well described by Colonel Hascall, who witnessed the performance, in 
the following extract of a letter we will take the liberty of reading : — 

Monroe, April 28, 1835. 

Dbar Sib : — I have just returned to this place from Ohio, having left here on Saturday last, with dispatches from the Executive of 
Michigan to His Excellency, Robert Lucas, Governor of Ohio. I found hiiu at Maumee, accompanied by a military force, consisting of 
about five hundred men, commanded by a Colonel Brush. I immediately learned from the Governor that the object of this great 
nulitary array was for the protection of the Ohio Commissioners, who were then engaged in running the line in dispute between Ohio and 
Michigan, which he was determined should be run whatever might be the consequen'^es ; to use his own language — " peacefully if he 
could — forcibly if he must." 

About this time one of the Commissioners arrived, bringing intelligence that he had made his escape from at armed fon-e, supposed 
to be the Sheriff and his posse from the county of Lenawee, that soon after he started he heard the report of guns, and supposed the 
most of his party were taken or killed. * * * * Soon after another of the Commissioners arrived with a more favorable 
report, that the Commissioners had succeeded in making their escape, and but nine of the party were arrested, among whom were three 



19. 



Colonels, viz.: Fletcher, Soo't, and Hawkins. Colonel Hawkins is also a member of the Senate of that State. This was unexpccteil to 
His I" xcellency, for he had jnst stated to the United States Commissioner and myself that not one of the men would be taktn alivc,and 
that he had sent a surgeon and assistants to take charge of the woun<led and dead. 

As much ."s it is to be regretted that Ohio will even attempt to enforce the act of her Legislature, extending her jurisdiction over a 
part of our Territory, and that after being advised by the law officer of the General Government that the same is miconstitutional, etill I 
confess I was somewhat amused at witnessing the safe arrival of (ieneral Taylor, (one of the Commissioners.) Paint for your own 
amusement a General making his escape from a powerful enemy^that is, the Tecumseh posse — through a most dismal swamj), the water 
most of the way, up to his middle, for the distance of twenty-tive miles, in the dead of night- and you will he able to form a distant idea 
of the martial appearanrr presented by tiencral Taylor on his arrival at Maumee. Before I lelt Maumee it was generally understood that 
an order was issued for ten thousand men. 

Tims the curtaiu closed over the second scene. This eventful dranui was now trau.sferred to Toledo, where the 
third scene was pltiycd out. 

Governor Lucas declared that a court should be organized at Toledo, on a certain day, to extend the civil 
jurisdiction of Ohio over the "disputed territory," and that he would have on the ground 10,000 armed men from 
Soullui'ii Oliiii. if rei|iiire(l to protect the sittings of the court. 

^Michigan, on the other hand, by order of her Governor, a day or two before the expeetctl arrival of the troops 
from Oliio, sent to Toledo a detachtnent of 1,-500 tis determined men as ever shouldered a musket or fired a ritle, under 
tiic conunand of the now venerable President of this As.sociation, General Joseph W. Brown. 

As cdiumaiider of the l()rccs of Jlichigan in the Ulack Hawk expedition. General Brown had acquitted himself 
to the entire satisfaction of tiic Territorial and National autliorities. As commander of tlie Toledo expedition he 
jjcrformed liis duties equally well, anil secured all that was designed by the expedition, which was to preve-u. jic 
Executive of Ohio fruin tranipling upon the rights of the people of Michigan. 

Having learned that sometlung more than braggadocia was required to scare the Wolverines of Micliigan into 
submission to his l)oasted "million of freemen," Ciovernor Lucas halted his troops outside of the coveted territory, 
and without the range of our fire, which movement was speedily followed by the return of the militia of Ohio to their 
homes, and also terminated the brilliant military career of that renowned warrior and commander of the army and 
navy of a great State, Governor Robert Lucas, of Ohio. And thus ended the third scene of the drama. 

The fourth and last scene was played in the halls of our National Congress. What Ohio could not obtain by 
threats of violence, she .secured by her political strength and by legislative intrigue. Ohio, with her twelve votes in 
Cnnunss, was politically strong; Michigan, without a vote, was politically weak. The di-sgraeeful scenes were then 
witne!>sed in our National Capitol of yielding to the arrogant demands of Ohio, and "breaking," in the language of 
that noble old man, John Quincy Adams, "the nation's plighted faith to the toil-worn pioneers of Michigan." When 
the act was consumated, despoiling us of our lawful territory, universal indignation prevailed in Michigan, especially 
among the citizens of this valley, who were more immediately interested in the result. The feeling was ojienly 
ex]ircss((l ill no measured terms. We had a right to regard it as a sacrifice of political weakness to political strength, 
of piiiici|)le to power, and of common honesty to degraded partisan expediency. 

There was no merit in the act of Congress giving us in exchange the Lake Superior district, for this was before 
the discovery of its wealth of mines and minerals, ai;d it was regarded on all hands as almost worthless. But it was 
an admission on the part of Congress that the attitude of Michigan was right, and as such a public tribute of respect 
for a jieople who had so manfully defended their soil from the attempted aggression of a powerful neighbor." 



BLISSFIELD; 



JS, v^ I HE following sketdi of Blis.sfield Was written by James T. Kcdzie, of that place : The town of Blissfield, 
'i|;;v'4|JL Lenawee County, originally comprised town.ship seven south, of range five east. At its organization, in 1827, 
'^/(^ij^ Jic towns of Palmyra, Ogdcn, Riga, and the territory south to the Maumee river were in its boundaries. 
The ojganization of the above towns, at a later period, left us with only a territory six miles .square, which was 
covered with a heavy growth of timber — black walnut, hickory, whitewood, etc. William Kcdzie, of Delhi, Delaware 
County, New York, 'entered at the United States Land Office,' at Monroe, May ?>d, 1824, the first lands sold by the 
Government in this town, on Sections twelve, thirteen and fourteen. Henry Bliss, from Jlonroe County, made his 



20, 



purchase June 19th, on Sections twenty-nine and thirty, — moved his family into the town in December of the same 
year, — and was the first inhabitant. It was this circumstance that gave its name to the town. Gideon West, from 
the same place, made his purchase June 28th, 1823, on Section twenty-nine, and moved on with his family in January, 
1825, and for a time was the only neighbor to JMr. I31iss, nearer than ten miles. George Giles purchased his farm on 
February 23d, 1825, but did not move his family on until the spring of 1826, when he located on Seetiun thirty-one. 
Almond Harrison, from Berkshier, Massachusetts, niatie his purchase September 17th, 1825, on Section thirty, and 
began immediately to chop and clear, preparatory to building a log house, in which to put a young wife from his 
native State, Samuel Buck, a young man, late of Ohio, purcliased a farm on Section twenty-nine, October 29th, 1825, 
and believing the injunction that " it is not good that man should be alone," chose a helpmeet in the person of Miss 
Margaret Frary, (step-daughter of Gideon West,) and when he had prepared his cage, was married November 2od, 
182(3. This was the first wedding, but not the only one; on the same day Mr. George Stout was married to Miss 
Delight Bliss. There was no one authorized to perform the marriage ceremony nearer than Monroe, and therefore 
they had to send a messenger to that place (thirty miles) on foot, (no horses in the town) expiessly to call Loren 
Marsh, a Justice of the Peace in and for that county, it being taken for granted that he could officiate in the 
unorganized counties of the Territory. 

On May 14th, 1826, William Kedzie, with his family, was landed on the pier in La Plaisance Bay, from the 
steamer Niagara, — no communication with the shore, not even a canoe, and no shelter to protect them. The floor 
was so covered with boxes of merchandize that only a small spot near the edge could be found where his wife and 
children could lie down, and there he had to watch all night for fear they would fall into the deep water. The next 
day in the afternoon a small sail vessel came down the river, on which they were conveyed to the landing near the 
village of Monroe. The next October, after building a log house, and before the doors and windows were in, they 
moved into the woods five miles from any inhabitant, and were greeted on the first night by a jubilee of wolves. 
Early in the spring of 1827 quite an immigration came into the town, namely: Benjamin and DaLiel H. C'lark, 
Jonas Ray, Anthony McKey, and Benjemin Tibbitts in the north part, and Isaac and Samuel Randall, Morris 
Burch, Ebenezer Gilbert, Edward Calkins, Jacob and John Lane, John Preston, Ezra W. Gofl'and his sons, Whiting, 
Timothy B., and Wiiliard, who were all voters, in the south part. 

May 28th, 1827, the first town meeting was held at the house of Hervey Bliss, for the election of township 
officers, at which time William Kedzie was chosen Supervisor ; Ezra W. Gotf, Town Clerk ; A. McKey, Jacob Lane, 
Moses Valentine, Assessors ; Almond Harrison, John Lane, A. McKey, Commissioners of Highways; Sanmel Randall, 
Constable and Collector ; Gideon West and George Giles, Overseers of the Poor ; William Kedzie, Isaac Randall, and 
Sam. Randall, Fence Viewers ; Hervey Bliss and George Giles, Pound Masters ; and William Kedzie, Hervey Bliss, 
George Giles, and Benjamin (Jlark, Pathmasters. There were twenty offices to fill, and only thirteen candidates. 
The result was, all were elected, some to two, and in one instance a man filled three offices. That Tttle band of 
pioneers, who then laid the foundation of this town, have all passed away, except Almond Harrison, who still remains 
the connecting link between the first and second generations. 

The first minister that visited our town was Rev. J. A. Baughman, of the M. E. Church, in the fall of 1827. 

The first birth occurred on October 3d, 1827, and was that of Lucinda, daughter of the first married couple. The 
first boy born was George Giles, Jr., on October 23d, 1827. 

The first school house, built of logs, in the summer of 1827, stood on what is now the north-east corner of Adrian 
and Monroe streets, in our village. The first school master was Chester Stuart, of Monroe, at a salary of $13 per 
mouth and " board found." The names of Thomas F. Dodge and George W. Ketchum are also among those of the 
early teachers of our young Wolverines. The first school house at Kedzie's Grove, in the north part of the town, was 
built in the fall of 1829, and the first and only teacher was Miss Caroline Amelia Bixby, of the town of Logan (now 
Adrian.) 

As early as February 22d, 1829, the First Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. Alanson Darwin, of 
Tecumseh. 

The first State or Territorial election was held on July 11th, 1831, when twenty-nine votes were given for 
"Delegate to Congress." Austin E. Wing received fourteen votes, Samuel W. Dexter nine, and John R. Williams six. 



WOODSTOCK; 



3S^(^^f'^HE following sketcli of Woodstock was written by Alvin C. Osborn, of that place: In June, 1824, my 
"'^*^'*' 'I' father, .Jesse Osborn, in company with my uncle, Alvin Chase, and others of our old neighbors, left Enfield, 
Thonipkius County, New York, to go viewing the southern part of t!i3 State ol Ohio. Ou their way, in 
crossing Lake Erie in a schooner, they fell in with many others on a like errand, to find a place to make a future 



21. f* 



horue, and as the Territory of Michigan was just bcinsr surveywl and coniins into market, and as it seemed to offer 
greater indiuviiionis. they ohangiHl ilieir anirst' aiui came to Miehig-au. After stopping a few daj-s at MounH\ they 
iiireil a Kreiiohmjin to aet as a giiiile. Then they traveleil wi>st uutil they i-ame to KiJgway. where mi>st of them 
after coing b;»ck to MonrvK\ }niri'h:ise«l huid : however, not one l^f them ever settled on it. A short time after another 
cvimpauv, amoni: whom was General Bn>wu and Miisgrove Evans, eanie on as far as Teounu-eh and purohaseil hind. 
And mv father hearing <>{ its Ix-ing a Unter KH>aiion for a town, and having Ixnter water privilegvs. also came to 
Teoumseh and lH>ught land on Evan"s Creek, in the wt^t p:»rt of the now village of Tixnmisoh, north of where Judge 
Staev's house now stands. My father then went Knek to the State of New York, K>ld his pn^jHTiy then?, and in August 
of tlie vear li'24. starte«l Ivaek to Michigan, taking his wife and tiunily of six children in a t\vi.>-hor^e iwereti wagvin. 
Some of the children are still living. We came to Butlalo with our team, where we shipiW on IxKinl ot' a schix>ner 
for Detrviit. On our trip up the lake we met a ste:imlv<it going down on her first trip. As we came up the Detrvnt 
Kiver we were shown the resideniv of Governor Oisss. on the Ix'irden? of the city, it IxMug a double log house, and 
after we laudeil I Si»w Governor Cass himself, and well do I r^memlvr how he Knikeil then. Frv>ni Deirv>it we startetl 
for MouriH\ making the trip in one wei'k : the French inhabitants told us that our team was the first that had jvvssed 
over the ro;»il since the war of 1812. The ei>vering >ras all gx.>ue from the l>ridges. the stringer* only remaining : some 
streams we fordeil, and s*ime of the bridges we covenHJ by cutting round poles. At Monrvx» the only vai-jint house we 
could tind was up the river abi^ut tive miles, on the north side of the city ; it was a log hotise. and it had not been 
inhabited since the war. on aiixnmt. as the Frvni-h told us. of a woman and live childnni having Ixxni munle:eil then? 
bv the Iidians: the blo<xl stains wen? yet upon the tliK>r. At the town of R;isinville we stopjxHl for a short time, and 
with a part of our gvxnls, leaving the rest with my oldest sister, then about twelve years of age, we went on to Teinunseh : 
p-Lssing up the river on the nonh side, we found it settKxi for ten miles alxne M>mi-ix' by the French, from this on to 
Tet'unisoh it was one vast wilderne:^;: we were six days in going fnnu R:u<iuville to Tei-amseh. twenty-five miles. We 
rxMnaiuetl alxnit six weeks at Tivum.<eh. during which time \Te n>lleil up the Kxly of a log house. I well n'member 
seeing my mother and s<,<me Indians helping at the work — help Ix-ing very searce at that time. We then went Iwck 
to Monnx% where we staid thn>ugh tlie winter of 1824 and '2o, my fother working with his team to supjwrt hkf.imily. 
In the spring of 1825 we movevi l«ck to Teeum*eh, and lived in a shanty near where the depot now stands. We so^m 
finis'.ied off our house by putting on eaves mad« of shakes, and h:uigingup a blanket for a door. We moved iu iu the 
summer. 

We raises! s^ime corn, and there being no mill to grind it, we nwdea mortar by hollowing the end of a white log. 
which SvTveil the purjxise of a mill. Iu the fiill of 1825 we sowe^l the first wheat that was sown iu Leuaweo County ; 
we cut the wheat alnxit the first day of July. 182t>. My lather tix>k it to the mill, and fn^ni it w:is made the first tlour 
ever ground iu L.^nawee Couoty, out of which Mrs. General Bmwn made ctxke for the first Fourth of July i-elebration, 
held in Teoumseh in the year 182l>. In the winter of 182l» and "27 my father went to Coldwater with two teanvs, to 
carrv some pmvisions to the surveyors, who wen^ running out the land into township*? and sectii»i»s, it Ixuug tlie first 
team that was ever then'- or west of Tecun»s.>h. He went with a sptin of horses and a yoke of oxen : a hinnl man 
by the name of David Hawk dn^veone of the teanvs and my father the i^her. It to^ik them eleven days to make the 
trip, and when they got to Hog Creek, alxnit ten miles fn>:u C'>ld\vater. thoy unyokeil their oxen and turneii them out 
to bn>use; there IxMiig mi hay, the oxen went bi»ck hom-.\ which grieve\i them much at the time, but it pn^bably was 
the means of sjwriug their lives. ITiey went on to Coldwater with their horse team, auil then came back and tix>k the 
other load, which detaineil them several days. Tlie weather was very cold: it snowed and blowt\l all the time atler 
they had left Coldwater to return home; sti much snow had fiillen that it cvnenxl up their tracks, and jis they did not 
■nark any trees when they went out. it was almost imjx>ssible to find their w.iy Ivu-k. Km they finally reaeheil home 
all safe and sound, following the tracks of the oxen, which had gone Ix'for^ them. 

The first white woman in the ciMinty was the young wife of Peter Benson, who. with her husband. w:is in tbo 
employ of Messtis. Evans it Crane. The next was Abbie Evans, wife of Musgiwe Evans, and sister to General 
Josi'ph Br.iwn. She was a very estiiiuible lady, of the Quaker onler. Messrs. Bnnvn and Evans Ixuight the laud 
wherj Te«.-um.<eh now stands. They built the first mill, and did much for theplaix^: they were very kind heartetl men, 
and excellent neighbors. Mr. Brown kept the fii^t hotel at the lower end of the town, near the court house. The 
first schixd kept in the county w.as taught by G^vrge Taylor. The first Sheritf in the c^niuty was James Pachiu : the 
first blacksmith was Turner Stets«^>u : the fin?t doctor w:is Caleb Xoble Ornisby. and a Ixtter man never livitl. Stetson 
and Ormsby l»th moved to Adrian. The first gvxxls were sold by a Mr. WoKvtt. The first miller was Silvenus 
Blackmore, the first settler of Cambridge township. The first minister of the gi^sjx'l was Elder Darwin, of the 
Presbyterian chun*h. Soon after the settlement of Tecuinseh was i.'ommeucetl the settlement of Adrian w.is begun. 
I renumlx^r am urg the people who stoppeil at my fathers house, on their way to Adrian, wsis Mr. A. J. Cooistock iuid 
Mr. Bixby, with their families. 

In the fall of 1824, while at Tecumseh. mv mother lxx?:nue une.asy .ibout my sister that was left at Kaisinville, 
amonj strangers that i.\>uld hanlly speak or understand a won! of English. She startt>l to ride to Kaisinville with a 
!Mr. Wolcott, taking with her the two yon-gest children. When alxnit two miles west of Big Frarie, twelve miles trom 
any inhabitant, he bn>ke his w.igon tongue. He left mv mother then? with her two childn'u, and went K-jck to 
Tecumseh to get another wagvm: when he arriveil there it w:is t<H> late to return. He then informed my father when^ 
my mother wa*. ami he startetl on horsob;»ck to fiud her. But it became so dark en? long that he was obligi?d to halt 
and wait for the morm to rise; hefinallv came up with my mother, and found that she, he.-iring the sound of horses, 
feet, had loadeti the gun which was iu the wagon, and wjis prep;mxl for ;uiy emergency. 



In the winter of 1825, while my father was gone to Mom-oe, there came to our house one day, about sundown, a 
dozen Indians, who asked for something to eat. My niotlici- showed them a tin pan about two-thirds full of corn, and 
nuide them understand that was all she had. This seenie<l to satisfy them. She set the corn down, and one of the 
Indians commenced putting it in his blanket. My mother seized a pair of old-fashioned tire tongs, drew them over 
her head, and told him to lay it down. He laid it down, looked up at her, and said, " Me she .shin, chemis coman," 
which means, good white woman. 



CAMBRIDGE: 



' ■* _ OR the following we are indebted to Mr. F. A. Dewey: This town lies in the north-western part of 
"-•iiis County and is very well known at the present day, as an excellent tract of land for the production of 
|/A5grain and stock, excelled by none, in beef cattle, sheep and swine, which are of the choicest grades ard very 
numerous. 

I would here mention that the north half of the town is somewhat of a rolling nature, interspersed with many 
beautiful, clear lakes bountifully supplied with fish, the soil is generally of a sand and gravel loam, interspersed with 
lime, and is well adapted for wheat ; the timber is mostly what is termed oak openings. 

The south half is middling level, what was called heavy timbered land, abounding with large and stately oaks, 
majestic black-walnut, and an exhaustless supply of white wood, sugar maple and ash. There are two streams of 
water, the Wolf Creek and S(iuaw Creek ; the latter derived its name from the many Indian corn fields on its banks. 
The above were in the primitive state of nature before the woodman's axe had leveled the forest when the Indian, 
the wolf, elk, bear and the deer were entitled to the territory. 

In the year 1825 the great military road from Djtroit to Chicago was surveyed through the uorth [part of the 
town, a number of years before a white inhabitant had erected his cabin there. 

The records at the United States land office, show that John Gilbert, of Monroe County, New York, entered the 
first land bought in town, 160 acres on Section four, in the month of June, 1825. The second lot was purchased four 
years later, in 1829, by Isaac Powers, of Washtenaw County, Michigan Territory, consisting of eighty acres on Section 
three ; purchase made December 1st. The third, by Charles Blackmar, of Lenawee County, Michigan Territory, July 
11th, 1831. Mr. Blackmar was the first actual settler having, erected the only house in the township, two 
years before buying the land, where the traveler ever found a hearty welcome, and was refreshed with the choisest 
selections from the forest. I will not omit to do justice to the memory of one I knew .so well. He was a true 
specimen of the undaunted men who led the way to this great, growing, and now populoas county, erecting his house, 
with the aid of the Indians, fifteen miles from the nearest settlement, where, with his wife and children, he was 
monarch of all. His horses and catile roamed at will for miles around. His home was a stranger to everything l)iit 
generous friendship and true hospitality. But when the scourge of the world, called cholera, was wafti'd from the 
Eastern to the Western Hemisphere, in its desolate tract the high and low were made to mourn. This black cloud of 
an epidemic went over our fertije county. In the remote and primitive home of Colonel Charles Blackmar a strantrer 
died with the disease; the landlord was also taken, and died in le.ss thirty hours. Thus passed away, in August, 1834 
a noble and good man, who had lived to see his isolated home in the midst of a thriving settlement. 

" Hia labors are o'er — he i i gone to his rest, 

To the throne of his Maker, the home of the ble.st." 

The second great enterprise or public improvement made in our town, was the LaPleasance Bay Turnpike, via 
Tecumseh, intersecting the Chicago road at Cambridge, which was laid out in 1832. Immediately after that roads 
were opened, — the woodman's axe was heard in the place of the howl of the wolf and the bear; the cheerful loo- 
house was erected in all directions — the ground was fitted for the seed corn and wheat, and thus prosperity, with the 
true and generous hospitality which prevails in all new settlements, united the good citizens in bonds of friendship and 
good will to all. 

The first school house was erected in 1834, in the east part of the town, and a school was also taught in the west 
part, at the house of Mr. Pratt, in the summer of 1837, — scholars coming the distance of four miles to learn to read 



and spell. In 1836 the first post-office was established, and Abram Butterfiekl was post-master. Tlie same year a saw 
mill was built on the far-t'aiiied Wolf Creek, which in speculative times was reported in Eastern cities as navigable 
for the largest class of steamboats from Lake Erie to the lakes in Cambridge. City lots bordering on the stream sold 
for fabulous prices, — wild-rat money was then circulated in uncut reams. 

The first ministers of the gospel were Elder Davidson, of the ]\Iethodist society, and Rev. William N. Lyster, of 
the Episco])al Church. The latter moved from Tccumseh, built his house on the banks of Sand Lake, amid the 
towering oaks, where the secluded eagle had made her nest. 

The first store was opened by Hart & T. II. ^losher, in the j'ear 1836. Mr. Mosher continues the business now, 
and I think we can .«afely say he has sold merchandise for a longer period of time than any one in the county. 

The first town meeting was held in 1836, at the house of Abram Butterfield. Isaac Powers was chosen Supervisor ; 
Paul Geddcs Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace ; James Geddes Treasurer. There were twenty-si.K voters, and 
they were very much nuited. At this election Elder Tripp voted an Abolition ticket, and made the remark: 
"Gentlemen, this is the first egg laid for this town ; it will annually increase." We have seen the progress, until the 
United States have been shaken to the center. For the four first years Isaac Powei-s was elected Suj)ervisor, and in 
1840, the pioneers being fully up to the spirit of political strife, the south woods men came out and Svlve.ster Walker 
was elected by a large majority, since which, with the exception of three terms, the whole Democratic ticket has 
prevailed. 

Among the early incidents of the fgrest life we will mention two. Late in the foil of 1836 Mrs. Ousted, in 
passing through the woods, nearly a mile from any house, met a large panther who disputed the right of way, but her 
courage was equal to the emergency, and she drove the "varmint" up a tree. A short time after that a "large and 
powerful bear put him.self in the way of a fiw boys; his jaws were already fastened to a boys neck; the squealinw 
was tremendous. No men were within a mile. Mrs. Owens, equal to any emergency, ran with the first ready weapon, 
a pitch-fork, and plunged it deep into the side of the huge monster; the boy was left staggering; the bloody trail of 
the bear was followed by hunters, who shot him. His weight was nearly four hundred pounds. 

In the year 1838 three of the Loveland family were killed by lightning. 

Of the first settleis, we can say they were families of enterprise and perseverance. With Colonel Charles 
Blackmar, Mr. Creg, and the Smith's on the north side. Elder Tripp, Mr. Wheeler, and Rev. William N. Ly.ster on 
the east side; Mr. Morton, Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Sparks on the south side; Mr. Pratt and Mr. Redfield on the west 
side The latter lived on the highest lands of the township. 

The town has had the honor of sending three men to the State Legislature, viz : Albert Wilcox, Thomas H. 
Jlosher, and Sylvester Walker. A State Senator was also nominated, but, in the political party conflicts, lost the 
election. In the quiet calling of the County Agricultural Society, C. H. Dewey has been twice elected President. 

For lawyers, Cambridge has never seemed to present a very inviting field, whether because of its remoteness from 
the county seat or because of the high moral and consequent peaceable character of its inhabitants, I do not know. 
Until proof to the contrary is furnished we may assume the latter. 



CANANDAIGUA: 



?N the summer of 1833 there was a company of gentlemen, four in nnmber, having heard of Tiffin's River, 
"as laid down on the map (now called Bean Creek,) came to Adrian for the purpose of vistiting the river and 
pascertainiug the situation of water poAvers, if any on the stream, and employed Noah Norton (who had a 
compass, and was well acquainted with section lines, etc.,) to officiate as pilot, and prepared themselves with suitable 
provisions, frying-pan, tiu kettle, etc., for a few days tramp. I had seen but little of Michigan then, and propo-sed to 
go with them, and made the arrangements by paying my proportion of the outfit, and started, on the 4th of July, by 
way of Mudge's Corners (so called) about three miles south, Mr. Bradish and some others had located there, f'rom 
thence we started on an under-brushed path to Samuel Jordon's, who had located near the south bend of the River 
Raisin, and the end cf civilization. We then started for Bean Creek, by compass, and after traveling about two 
miles wo struck an old deep-trodden Indian trail, which led us through to the creek where Canandaigua village is now 



24. 




situated. It was an oak opening of about 150 acres; trees scattering, and little underbrush ; very level and covered 
with flowers of every hue, the most beautiful spot I ever saw in the wilderness, situated between Bean Creek and 
Bear Creek, one eraptyniug into the Mauniee River and the other into the River Raisin. We put up at an old Indian 
shanty. It rained, and the mosquitoes seemed as though they thought we were intruders, and meant to have every 
drop of our hearts blood. Our shanty leaked, and we had a poor night's rest. I looked around iu the morning, while 
the others were preparing our breakfast, and found a section corner. We were on tiie south-east corner of section one, 
township south, range one east. We then started, taking the windings of the creek down to Silver Creek, a little 
below where Morenci is now situated, but found nothing to suit the water power men, so we returned to our old bark 
shanty, and the next day to Adrian. Two of the men were not sati-sfied — thought there must be some fall on Bean 
Creek before entering the ^laumee River, so they hired horses and Mr. Norton, and went down the creek into the 
edge of Ohio, and on some of the wet prairies lost their lines, and it being near night they put up at the " World's 
Hotel," having the canopy of heaven for a roof One of the horses got out of the stable and could not be found, so 
they came back to Adrian, cursed the country, paid Isaac French $tiO for the horse and left. In November the horse 
found its way back to Adrian as fat as a seal. 

In 1834 Fairfield was set oft' from Blissfield, embracing the townships west, and in 1835 Seneca was set off from 
Fairfield, and we held our town meeting at Jacob Baker's, polling twenty-six votes. There were more voters, but 
they had business of more importance than town meetings. In 183(3 Medina was set off from Seneca, being township 
eight south, range one east, and a portion of nine south, extending to the State line, and so remains. Gershum, 
Bennett, and Hagaman moved in with their families in Decembar, 1833, and being above want, hired some men, and 
made quite an opening, and in the spring of 1834 put in a number of a;res to spring crops. It was the first opening, 
the first log cabin, and the first families iu that section of the country. In the spring of 1834 Cook, Hotchkiss, John 
Knapp, Charles Pri.sby, and some others moved in with their families, and in the summer Simon D. Wilson, Jacob 
Baker, Daniel Salisbury, E. Walworth, and several others came in with their families, and emigration increased 
rapidly. 

In 1833, by the memorial of our Governor and others, Congress appropriated $10,000 for cutting out and making 
passable a road from Vistula to the Indiana line. Commissioners were appointed, and commenced the work in 1834, 
and finished in 1835, called the " Territorial Road," which encouraged many to locate and settle near the road, among 
whom were Paul Raymond, K. J. Baldwin, Jeptha Whitman, Hiram Wakefield, Djnnis Wakefield, Orville 
Woodworth, James McCriller, and many others. The road ran through a large section of excellent land. Mr. 
Cavander moved on his premises, and in March, 1835, I went there and built me a log house, twenty by thirty feet, 
took my lumber from this place, and moved my family .Ipril 16th. Soon after I made an addition of twelve feet to 
one side for a cook-room and dining-room, and came to Adrian to purchase some groceries, — whisky and brandy, — 
and told them I was going to keep tavern. They thought that was a novel idea, and laughed at me, and had their 
own fun about it. I told them all I wanted of them was to send on the land lookers ; and in June and July I had 
more customers than I could attend to, frequently from twelve to twenty at a time, and one night thirty-five laud 
lookers. 

In less than six months every eighty acre lot fit for farming purposes, within ten miles, was taken up by actual 
settlers, with the exception of a few small tracts taken by speculators, and the most of them from the Eastern States, 
men of talent and enterprise. Ijchallenge this State, or any other, to produce as many public men with so few inhabitants, 
within five miles north and south, and two miles east and west, which includes the two small villages of Medina and 
Canandaigua. Medina had the honor of sending Laurin Hotchkiss to the Legislature one terra, Ebenezer Daniels 
one term, and one of the committee to frame our State Constitution, and Artemus Allen one term. In Canandaigua, 
Fhilo Wilson two terms, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and Dr. Rufus Kibbe a Senatorial term, and 
within the limits above described, F. J. Hagaman one term, Noah K. Green one term, and Dr. James Sweeney one 
term. The records will show, all in fifteen years, and betwei^n 1835 and 1850, and the whole population on the 
limits described did not exceed 1,000 at any one time. The most of the public men named have lived in log cabins. 

We are indebted to Samuel Gregg for the above facts. 




HUDSON; 

I^PIE following short sketch of early times in Hudson we take from quite an extended history of the place, written by Jaraea 
Laird : — "What is now called Hudson, was first called Bean Creek, then Lanesville, until finally, by common consent, it 
^^took on the name given to the Township by Mr. Hiram Kidder, from the fact ihat Dr. Hudson, of Geneva, ;N. Y., was one 
vof the first land owners in the town. The first settler in tlie township, then with Madison, Dover and Palmyra, forming one 
long township called Lenawee, was Hiram Kidder, from Yates County, N. Y , and his wife and family. Mr. Kidder reached Bean 
Creek (so called from the quantity of bean timber that grew on its banks,) October 29th, 1833. He took up about 500 acres of land. 

In 1836, the settlement was formally recognized as Lanesville, and a commission issued by Amos Kendall, Post-master (jeneral of 
the U. S., to B. H. Lane as post-master. In 1840 the Indians were sent away. In 1841 a schoolhouse wa.s built on the west side, 24x40. 
It was also used by the Congregational, Methodist and other religious societies as a church. In the fall of '41 the ribbons (or 2x4 pieces 
of hard maple timber) were laid and cars draWn by hor.ses came to Lanesville. In 1842-3 the first locomotive crossed Bean Creek. It 
Was called the Comet. Hudson wa-s organized as a vilhtge in 1853 The first newspaper published in Hudson was the Sentinel by T. D. 
Montgomery. 



25. 



COMSTOCK BROS, 



MANUFACTURERS OF 



DOORS, SASH, BLINDS, 



f %§iimg, f iiimg , If ©miiimg, piiitms, '^0., 

At their Flaning Mill, Dmsios Street, AdfiaSj Mich, 



ALSO MANUFACTURERS AND PROPRIETORS OP THE 




ttiM 






^1 



Guaranteed to be the Easiest and Best Spring Bed in Use. 

WE WILL liEFUXD THE PURCHASE MONEY OF ANY BED SOLD BY US IF IT DOES 

NOT PROVE TO BE ABSOLUTELY NOISELESS AND BETTER THAN 

ANY BED IN MARKET REGARDLESS OF COST. 



Call on ov Aclclress 



Planing Mill, near the Freight Depot. 



coivcstooik: sTtas., 

ADRIAN, MICH. 



26. 



H. BREWER & CO., 




3VtuA.KrXJF.A.CTTJREnS OF 



STEAM ENGINES 



m 



51, T-^ Tlilr' im. tfHii 



ALSO MANUFACTURERS OF THE 



OPPOSITE RAILROAD DEPOT. 



irain file Machlns, Tifanj Patent Oiw©f Fip© MaeMae, 
Ew0fi'§ fateat Siick Machiaej Fapex iagiaeg, &e,, 

TEGUMSEH^ MICH. 



27. 



GRAND OPENING OF NEW GOODS 




T APT & BAILEY, 

Have returned from the Eastern market, and are opening out a Mammoth Stock of 

'S lODIH'S AHD BOYS' CLOTHING, 




THE LARGEST AND BEST ASSORTED STOCK OF 




In the City. Also, a Fine Line of 

CLOTHS, 

BEAVERS, 

VESTINGS, 

C^SSIMIEIIES, 

Etc, for Merchant TaiUiring, and Capt. Andrews will give you 

THE LATEST STYLES. 

A FIT GUARANTEED. EVERY DEPARTMENT COMPLETE. 

COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES. 

TAFT (£ BAILEY^ The One-Price Clothiers. 

33 JMaumee Street, -A^cli-ian, >Iicli. 



28, 




TERMS AND CLUB RATES FOR WEEKLY PRESS : 

One Copy, Fifty-two niimberR fl 50 

" Twenty-six K umbers, Six Months 1' 00 

" Thirteen Kumbers, Three Months 50 

MBEEAL mBW&EME^T^ TO) QliM'B^, 

lO'Copies, One Year, $1 30 Each $13 75 

15" " " 1 25 " ::::: is 75 

20 " " 1 20 '• 24 00 

25 " " 1 10 " 27 50 

The getter up of a Club :'t the above KEDUCED prices will be entitled to an extra copy, for one year. 
The Club muft be sent at one time and (o one post-ojjicc address. Additions may be made at club rates. 

B@:„The above are our lowest cash rates. Post-office orders and registered letters may be sent at our 

^ ^ Office Corner Maurnee and Winter Sts., Masonic Temple. 

W. A. \VHITNEY, Proprietor. 




-^ 






KING & RICE, . 



^m 

^^^ 

<-i?i^ 



*-^m 






M- 
^ 



WHOLESALE AJS'D EETAIL DEALERS IN 



iMi %* fe" f ^ %#• 1^ ■ :- 




^-» 



ti 



«: 









*^- 






*-^-» 



Next door to Lawrence House, ADRIAN, MICH. 



.A-GEISTTS FOK 



eHlGKERlllG, WEBER, KREGER & HftlNES BROS.' PtftHOS. 

A Full Sized, Rosewood. First Class Piano, with all Modern Improvements, 
sold for $275 Everything Else in Proportion. 

]^^^oniih c?ffp»/.'i /t?r ^itiiMf, ^^itcij uiicJ ^imiiian.'s <(■ plough ^rnum.""^^ 

This Combination cannot bo Excelled by any ^Makers on earth. 

PIANOS and ORGANS SOLD on MONTHLY PAYMENTS. 



KING' S -VIT^ IT, IC XM^ G, 

eo^^^3»SC^^^$S!^S Bookseller, Jeweler and Optician, 

^^k?#[DMOiSTO| BUicf anil KING SPECTACLES, 



SOi/e AG 'EN^Cy-^ A T, 



IVo. S3 IMtiiinxee St. 



Whhh I'lial.lM uit! t.i 111, Ihf ey.; witli iii:illu-iii-.UiC!il nt-curaey. 

FUJI SiocK 01 Brazilian PetiWes and Crystal Lenses, In RulJlier, Stel, Silver and (JoM .Frames. 

The .iliDvo :ir,' iiitci-L-liangi'alilc, and ouc iiair will last for years. 

Next Door to the Lawrence House. 



ADRIAN 




STORE ! 



THE L^I^O-EST, BEST ^^HSTID 

CHOICEST STOCK OF TEAS IN ADRIAN 

CAN BE FOUND AT THE 

fiA & mmmi ef oil 



WEH WILLI 





FIRST BOOB WEST OF 31ASON1C TEMPLE. 



tm 



Miti 



I also have a Large and Complete Stock of 



1^ 



toutim 



h> 



.A.3STID THE 



CHEAPEST SUGARS IN THE CITY. 



I Sell THREE POUNDS of GREEN TEA for $1.00. 

1 Sell TWO POUNDS of JAPAN TEA for $1.00. 

I Sell ONE POUNV of the BEST JAPAN TEA in Lenawee Co., for $1.13. 

s^ C.A.r.r. .A.ND GET S A.3VII»I-E:S FFIEE ^« 



HIGHEST PRICE PAID FOR ALL KINDS OF COUNTRY PRODUCE. 

ALL GOODS SOLD FOR CASH. 



29. 



h* 



?. w. -n:>tri r. 



ESTABLISHED 1S63. 



A I HTXTEE. 



S.\V. TEMPLE & CO.. 




WH'T.K'iAI.F. AM' 



m.al::i.- in all ki>Ii? of 



LUMBEE, SHINGLES, LATH 

SASH. DOOES AND BLINDS, 

NftlLS, PUTTY, PAINTS UNO OILS, HOUSE TRIMMINGS, k. 



— AL50 PROPRIETORS OF- 



TECUMSEH PLAITIITG & MATCHIITG MILLS, 



COR. PEARL AXD SHAWNEE STREEIS. \ 
Ofite vB Sha«B«« St-, bc<T««Q Fncl uid Rulnad. ) 



TECUMSEH, MICH. 



Thewondeifnl progress of this institution, from small begiauings to its present esrtetisive proportions, is deerving 
of mors than a passing notice. Siuue ten years ago Mr. Temple, wiihoiu capital and without aid in anv shape, other 
than that contained in his own dttermintd will, prupelitd by that indomitable energy and Yan :ee pluck characteristic 
of the race, he procuncd a few loads of iumWr and laid the tbuudation for a business which has now outgrown 
anything of the kind in the county. 

The first rtar he doi-e a little local trade of about §"2.(XH) : but by a steady, constant and pemstant application to 
business, ever Waring in micd the importance of keeping taith with the public, by dealing on lair, honorable busines 
principles, thereby giving general satisfaction, it has steadily continued on the increase until the present time, when 
the sales f >r the current year, we are told, will rea h at least ^venty-five thousand dollars. 

This is truly a very creditable showing for Mr. Temple : not only because of the grand success attained from 
what setmed in the first place to be rather a dubious enterpr&.', but also because that that success has so largely con- 
tributed to the advancement of the industrial and commervial interests of the place. 

We were surprised to find the extent of territory, penetrated by the busine^ operstioBS of this etstaUishment, 
so large. In alxHit every section of this county, and in several of the adjoining counties, the people have learned of 
the advantages acvrtiing to themselves by purchasing their lumbe''. thei. house trimmings, glass, nails, paints and oils 
at this popular house, and hence the secret of so large and extended trade. Of the dior. sash and blind manufactory, 
connected with this establishment, we cannot speak in dotail. but we bslieve that it is admitted on all hands that the 
work turned out here is the mv>?t perfect in workmanship of anything of the kind which has yet appeared in the 
market, and is eagerly siHight after all over the country. If then, without capital to commence with, and the 
consequent difficulties and embarr^vsfments arising therefrom, a final and complete success has been attained, the career 
of the new combinaiiou, jusi fbrm..Hi. cannot be problematical. When such a man as Andrew J. Hunter, whose 
character for probity in the perfbnuauce of all the a&irs of life, and which is so well known, not only here, but 
thrviughout the whole country, concludes, after deliberate investigation, to embark in this enterprise, and invests a 
portion of his large capital therein, it is a sure guarantee that the public will he fairly dealt with, and that Tecuniseh 
will have one of the l;».'>r.-st cstiblishaients of the kind in this section of the Scale. — 7V«-hj»wA Hiraid, Junf. 1S73. 



30. 




CARRIAGE 




EST-AJBLISHZEID 1851. 

THOS. CUM:m:INS. Prop'r. 

RAILROAD STRBXST, - TECUBISEH, nilGH. 



ALL OESCRIPTIONS OF CARRIRGES ON HAND OR MADE TO ORDER. 



WHeBHIlllTEi IS ilPRESEMTEO 



REPAIRING IN ALL ITS BRANCHES 

NEATLY AND PROMPTLY DONE. 



P,^'JL 



IJ %J^ 



BMiQEB AB LOW A8 Q&MM'BWEMT' WITM TME Q)WAMT'T Q>F W&MK, 



31. 



SHERWOOD. BARKER & CO., 



I 109SUMMIT ST., TOLEDO. OHIO. | 



MILLINERY AND FANCY GOODS 



m mA ^ ^^ itt 1 1^ S3 



It Oi iir O 3P 15 If . 



A Full and Fresh Stock of 



PATTERN BONNETS AND HATS, FLOWERS, VELVETS AND RIBBONS, 

MmiMf is @11 t&i- Sitilllis t i tfti Ittsii^ 
WHITE GOODS, HOSIERY & GLOVES, 

To "Which We Solicit Your Attention. 



WHOLESALE & RETAIL. 



SHEEWOOD, BAEKER & CO., 

lOd Summit Street. 



32, 



^'T%. 




Corbin & Chittenden's, 

2d DOOR SOUTH OF CENTRAL HOTEL, 

M@ M®miM Maim M.,j Adlmmm^ Mmk^j 

Is the place you have heard everybody talking about as being the best place to buy 



Our line of STOVES will compare favorably with any in the market. We invite particular attention to the 

"CROWN JE\VE L; 

As the handsomest aud best Coal Stove made, and to the MANSARD OCCIDENT and ONWARD as the 

best Cook Stoves. 



WE KEEP THE BEST CLOTHES WRINGERS, 

And furnish new roles and fix;ures for repairing old wringers. We employ the best of workmen in our Tin 
and Job Shops, and are prepared at all times to do 

JOBS IN THE CITY OR COUNTRY 

AT BOTTOM PRICES. COME AND SEE US, WE DESIRE AN ACQUAINTANCE. 



Cornelius k Palmer, 



DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OP- 





52 MAUMEE St., 2d DOOE EAST OF MAIN, 



We do not Attempt to Humbug any Partictdar Class by Pretending to Make Dis- 
crimination in their Favor, but will Sell to 

Grangers, 

Workiugmen, 

—AND EVERYBODY ELSE AT THE 

VERY LOTV^EST PHI CES. 



THE OLD FOUNDRY 



.A.IVI> 



MACHINE SHOP, 



O F 



NORTH MAIiyr STRBBT^ - - ADRIAN^ IKEICH. 



— MANUFACTURER AND BUILDER OF — 



STEAM mm, FARM IMPLEMENTS, DRAG SAWING MACHINES, 

HORSE POWERS, CALDRON KETTLES, &c. 



I Invite Special Attention to nxy 



PLOWS. GILfr"™"^^ 



5J 

AND LAND ROLLERS. 




JOBBING AND REPAIRING 

DONE PROMPTLY AND IN THE BEST MANNER, 



NETT G-OODS, 




:p^itio ip>mxos 



1874 




1875 



-THE BEST- 



CHILDREN'S WEAR AT PANIC PRICES. 



MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN 



BOOTS, SHOES AND RUBBERS. 

New Brick Store, No. 4 North Main St., next door Nortli of J. B. Cook's Drug Store. 



.A-clrian, 



]\Iicliigaii, 



t 1^ tt*'i^ m -^-^ mm %$ m w^ m m m m- %im 9 



Custom Work Done to Order. Repairing a Specialty. 
ADRIAN, Sept. 25, 1874. 




53 MAUniESE STREET, 

A-DRI^N, - - _ MUCH. 




m 




I KEEP ALWAYS ON HAND A 

ii^g^ -l^g ^ps^ ^'^^^ <^fa 

OF EVERYTHING IN THE LINE OF 




MW^. All ^,f If irilllY 




And sell all goods at the 



I ElEST ESPECliL AITENII 10 i! Wl OF Fli OTIOIRI 



are 



aid Isamke mj Stock, ^^^s 



W. E. KIMBALL. 



ESTABLISHED 1851. 



C. AV. KIMBALL. 



W. E. KIMBALL &, SON, 



Still keep the Largest and Most Extensive Stock of 



House Furnisliing Goods! 




KEPT IJV THE CITY OF ABRIAW. 



?Siifc TT- 



i|\UR STOCK of Furniture consists in part of Parlor Sets, Chamber Sets, Drawing Room Sets, all 
J Styles of Kitchen Furniture. Beilstcads from $3.00 to $250.00. Bureaus from $8.00 to $200.00. 



StyK 

Common Furniture of Every description. Our Extpnsion Tables are the wonder of the world for 



Prices^and Quality. We can show you Extension Tables from $12.00 to $50.00, in Walnut and Ash, Fall 
Leaf Tables, Centre Tables (Marble and Wood Tops,) liibrary Tables, and in fact every thing in the line of 
Furniture, and 

iTisjzLL ovn CVuJ/ MAyiy:^j'-OTirTiE ! 

AND YOU CAN RELY UPON THE QUALITY. 

WE also have a full line of CROCKERY, (both Fine and Coarse,) Plated Ware, Castors, Forks and 
Spoons, Tea Sets, German Silver Spoons, Knives and Forks, (fine and common.) Lam;is, an immense stock of 
Glass Ware. We offer particular inducements to young people just commencing house keeping; we can furnish 
their house from cellar to garret, saving them largely in prices, and the trouble of going to three or four stores 
to find what they want. 

We also keep constantly on hand a large stock of FEATHERS. If you want a good Feather Bed or 
Pillows you can find them at KIMBALL ct iSON'S. We make all kinds of Furniture to order, also do all 
kinds of Wootl Turning with neatness and despatch. Call aud look us over before making your purchase, as 
it is no trouble for as to show goods. 

Sales Room 31 Stone Block, and 9 Maiden Lane, between Main and Winter Sts. Factory South ISIain S.t 



C- A. CONKLIN, 





107 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN. 



mim WROUGHT CASK k CASKETS 

BEST ITV THK A>^OIiLr>, 

KEPT ONLY BY C. A. CONKLIN. 



I have now the largest stock of AVood CofRns, Metalic 




s 




? 



IN THE CITY, NO ONE CAN COMPETE, EITHER IN 

STYLE OP WORK. 

[1' Amount of Stock or Price. A visit to ray Ware rooms will convince 

you that I 

ST^TE FA.CTS. 



I shall keep at all times a large stock of 



'^l^ 



m miQY0^, 



Particular Attetition Given to the Preservation of 

Bodies. My Conveniences for this 

are Unequaled. 

'■ C. A. CONKLIN. 



WM. F. AYERS. J. W. MEDICK. 

NEW GOODS AND NEW PRICES. 

Wm. P. Ay ers & Co-, 

IXTholesale and Retail Dealers in 




J^ISTT)' 



FANCY GOODS, 



JVO. 71 AlfD 73 MAUMEE STREET, 



^DRi^nr. 



We would Call the attention of the public to 

THE LARGEST AND BEST SELECTED STOCK 

—OF— 
TO BE FOUND IN THE CITY, 

AND AT LOWER PRICES THAN ELSEVTHERE. 




¥ 



m 



THE LARGEST STOCK OF 



lEPHEHS, ZEPHEe PilTTEHKS, BOTH OM PftPIR and €ilPft^ 

EMBROIDERY CANVASS OP EVERY KIND, 

I^^ILLINQ- ©ILKS, &c., &c. 

o 

At lower prices than ever sold before. 



JAMES FARRER & CO, 




ENGINE BUILDERS, BOILER MAKERS, 




I 





F 




MANUFACTURERS OP 



UFRieiT FORTAEE IHRESIIHG ENGINES. 



* A >. i JL A A 



These Eogines are Superior to any made for the purpose, 

A A A. I L J- A- -A. A_ i A_ A A_ i. » A_ A- 




To See Them is only to be Convinced. 

They iveigh Four TJiousancl Poinids, only about one-half the iveight of other Machines of the same 

capacity ; requiring only about half the wood or ivater ; they are more easily handled 

so that more ivork can be done in the same time ; no staJcing down is required. 



And Plow -Repairs of all Kinds constantly on hand. 

gA^BMQM KETTLE!^, MQAB mBAPEMBf BOB SZEIQB §E&E^, 

Wrought Cider Screws, with or without Ratchet. 

All kinds of Brass Steam Goods and Fittings, Mud Pipe, Smoke Stacks and Britchings. 
IS-BOILER AND ALL KINDS OP MACHINE REPAIRING A SPECIALTY,-®a 
South Winter Street, ) T -TT\ \ TZ> T? XHT? M-r- i^^r~\ 

ADRIAN, MICH.} U . Jd ..^^xvxvxLrf xX csC ^kJ, 



■laaiHaHi^BaaBaMU^Hb 






JAMES THOMPSON, 

%# 1 ^ A II fcl 4 i^ #! ^ 

11 ft- T r ft TT ^ # 1^- # 

AND 

or s IT & Xa ^. 




^irst §oor ^outh of ihe girst ^tfionul §anh. 



CLOCKS, WATCHES, Ac. 

GARKFULLY REPAIRED 

BY EXPERIENCED WORKMEN. 
ADRIAN, .... MICH. 



^ 



"S 



Herrman & May, 

CLOTHING! CLOTHING! 

THE 

LARGEST AND BEST STOCK 

— OF— 



r: 



i/I^TI^ If/^T^S PtT n^FPTfT'Kf PS 






^m\mi 



Cassimeres and. Nestings 

FOR THE FALL AND WINTER TRADE, 

:ever brought to this city, ani> will be 

miiB AT PMWE^ TO) ^WM TEE TIMEM. 

CALL AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES. 

We afe loaad t@ Igep ip ilie Eepitailss of Beisg the Leaiisg Oktilag Hsise, 

X,ET THE COKTSEClTTElSrCES EE "WH-A-T THE^ST IS^.A.'Y. 

No. 23 Maumee St., opposite the Lawrence House. 
ADRIAN, Sept. 25th, 1874. 



T.> till- first of our custoiii.-r.s ulio will send u»3 correct solution to the following Rebus we will give, aa a ItcwarU of Merit 

ONE PAIR LADIES FINE SHOES OR $5 CASH. 

To the 2il, One Pair blisses Shoes. To the 3d, One Pair Gent's Slippers. To the 4th, and everybody else, 

The solution to the above must be enclosed in sealed envelopes, which will be numbered a.s received, and on the 1st day of December, ISTo, the 
envelt)pes will be opened and the prize.-i awarded to the successful persons. 

stooik: l.a.i?>c3-est, best jl:n"e oh:e!.a.i=est. 




^"0.2. 



Jipg at 

012 2201, as Uf 1 ^\ 2 



4 Ihom.^ 



SIGN OF 



BAISI & Emi 



Sotith Side of Mavmee Street, 
Next door to Bennet's Drug Store, " 

AURIAX, HICH. 



t^»j»»»v\'*.>tyfe^%^, 



Entered according to Act of Coiifrress, in tlae year 1871, by Crane & Co. (Lock Box aOU, Iiidiaiiapuiis, lud.), 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington. 

REPAIRS AND CUSTOM WORK DONE TO YOUR ORDER. 

We liuve now rieeived our immense Stock of 

F"-flLLL .A.NO -IVINTER BOOTS .A.ND SHOES 

Which we propose to sell at prices 10 per cent. BELOW THE LOWEST, and warrant our goods. AVe 

are bound to sell. Come here before you buy and see for yourself. Bring your solutions 

to the Kcbus and get the prizes at the Boot and Shoe Store of 



S. M. CONSTANTINE, 



<! 
O 

o 






o 

M 




o 

Q 

l> 

!2! 



o 

n 
t?4 



TS M: A^TJIVlEli] STREET. 



New 7 1-3 Octave Rosewood Pianos from ^^Z^ ^° '^RS 

Organs from SO _'_' l.^^O 

Violins fromt 1 •^'-'^ 

.A.1.]:^ OTMEFt GrOODS IN FROPOFlTIONr. 

T2 MAUMEE STREET. 



New Organs Rented With Privilege of Purchase on 
At ouc-fifth its value down, and at two and one-half jjer cent, interest ou honest cash value. 

72 MAUMEE STREET. 



MASON & HAMLIN, PSLODBET, PELTON & Co, ANE KIMBALL ORGANS, 

All warranted from the factory in writing for iive years. Pianos sold on monthly payments. 

72 MAUMEE STREET. 



PIANOS AND ORGANS TUNED AND REPAIRED. 

Remember you save 25 per cent, by Purchasing of me direct. 

S. M. COITSTAITTIITE, THE PIAUO MAIT, 

72 MAUMEE STREET. 



V 



r^:-^i. 




ESTABLISHED 1842. 




DEALER IN 



BATS, CAFS, 



LADIES AND GENT'S 



lT-TT3)e« piJf PlrT-TTSUeiJ 0^ 




I ^J 




rLBM E"^ ^ n/ir nri.il iBi 




ROBES OF ALL KINDS. 



LADIES AND GENT'S 

Traveling Bags, Trunks and Umbrellas. 

o 

Silk Hats Fitted to the Head and Hepaired. 



MOTTO-" CHEAP FOR CASH." 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



II III 

014 754 782 1 • 



